The word ‘servant’ can have negative implications, but that’s not the intention in this Scripture. Knowing how pressures and people distract us from our God-given purpose, Paul used the strongest possible language, doulos, to remind us that we’re supposed to be absolutely committed to the will of our loving God. Jesus loved people so much that one day He would die to redeem them, but that didn’t stop Him from saying no when He needed to. Pleasing and appeasing people to win their approval is never a good idea because it puts someone other than God in the driver’s seat of our lives. Instead of letting Himself be side-tracked, Jesus: 1) refused to let other people’s idea of what was important keep Him from His mission; 2) recognised that doing God’s will was more important than trying to meet everybody else’s expectations; and 3) made prayer and uninterrupted time with His Father a top priority. It wasn’t always easy for Him, and it won’t be easy for us either. Early in His ministry when word spread about His miracles, a ‘whole town gathered at the door and Jesus healed many’ (Mark 1:33-34 NIV). The next morning, ‘while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else – to the nearby villages – so I can preach there also. That is why I have come”’ (v.35-38 NIV). Jesus was a servant to God’s will, and we must be too.

What Now?

We might struggle with the idea of being God’s ‘servants’ at first. So today, write a list of reasons you love God. Let your desire to be part of His plan grow naturally from your love for Him. He doesn’t force us to serve Him. It’s our choice out of love.