"Servanthood" or "Its not my ministry"
Ruth Harms Calkin in a book called, Tell Me Again, Lord, I Forget.
said, "You know, Lord, how I serve You With great emotional fervour
In the limelight. You know how eagerly I speak for You At the women's club.
You know how I effervesce when I promote a fellowship group.
You know my genuine enthusiasm at a Bible study."
But how would I react, I wonder if You pointed to a basin of water and asked me to wash the calloused feet of a bent and wrinkled old woman. Day after day Month after month in a room where nobody saw And nobody knew.
Servanthood in the body of Christ is often unseen, behind the scenes, the washing the dishes, cleaning a dirty house, cleaning out the rubbish bins type work in the body of Christ.
Out of all the 27 spiritual gifts (Apostle, prophecy, pastor, teaching, wisdom, knowledge, exhortation, discerning of spirits, giving, helps, mercy, missionary, evangelist, hospitality, faith, leadership, administration, miracles, healing, tongues, interpretation of tongues, voluntary poverty, celibacy, intercession, exorcism, service, martyrdom) mentioned in the New Testament there are 8 gifts that are background gifts (in bold and italics). These are just as important as the high profile gifts and an integral part of the body of Christ. We are all called to serve and reflect Christ and His ministry. In fact even the 12 apostles were called to serve and wash the feet of others. Yes, even the super apostolic prophet, pastor, teacher, evangelist, healers were to serve in menial everyday, unwanted, undesired and unnoticed tasks. Someone has said that it is in the serving that we find our gifts, not in knowing our gifts we serve.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, love one another as Christ has loved you. Serve one another as Christ has served and laid down His life for you.
