FROM THE SERVANT GENERAL
ON SERVANT LEADERSHIP
(Part 149)
A SERVANT LEADER LIKE JESUS – 2
April 9, 2022
Today’s readings:
Isaiah 50:4-7
Today’s passage is part of the third “Servant of the Lord” poems in Isaiah (out of four). These passages have been applied prophetically to Jesus. As servants of the Servant, we learn from today’s reading.
“The Lord God has given me a well-trained tongue” (v.4a).
- Servant leaders have been privileged to be given intensive formation, to know much more about the faith, and to lead others. In these they are able to speak God’s word.
- Such training is not just for personal edification but for service to others, especially in proclaiming the good news of salvation in Jesus.
“That I might know how to answer the weary a word that will waken them.” (v.4b).
- Servant leaders share God’s wisdom to those who are lost, who are searching, who are in need of answers.
- Their guidance helps to awaken others to the authentic life in Christ and to grow in faith.
- The word of God brings people to the truth and ultimately to salvation.
“Morning after morning, he wakens my ear to hear as disciples do” (v.4c).
- Servants leaders pray each and every day, oftentimes in the early morning when they are fresh from rest and are looking to a new day.
- God always awaits His people to come to Him, to be able to impart instruction.
- Jesus continues to form us as his disciples as we seek him in prayer.
“The Lord God opened my ear; I did not refuse, did not turn away.” (v.5).
- God does not hide His face from us. If we seek Him, He is there. He is eager to speak to us. We just need to be attentive and humbly listening.
- We pray not only to ask God for good things, but to seek His directions. And God will challenge us to go deeper into the Christian life. No matter how challenging, we must heed what He says and embrace His ways for us.
- When God commands, we obey.
“I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who tore out my beard; my face I did not hide from insults and spitting.” (v.6).
- If we do embrace God’s ways, we will be in conflict with much of the world, which has turned away from God. Thus we can expect to be insulted, cursed, humiliated, persecuted, even physically beaten and harmed.
- There can be much suffering, just like the apostle Paul and all the martyrs of the faith through the ages. Such is the lot of those who do God’s will.
- We are to accept these with the grace and strength of God, and rejoice in the privilege and honor of embracing the cross.
“The Lord God is my help, therefore I am not disgraced” (v.7a).
- We know that God is there for us and will never fail us.
- If we are persecuted, we know that the world treated Jesus in the same way. We may be disgraced by the world, but we are always graced by God’s presence and provision.
“Therefore I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame.” (v.7b).
- We plod on, through the challenges of the Christian life and service. We must be committed, dogged, persistent, unwavering, enduring, persevering.
- In the service of Christ, we can never be put to shame.
- In the end, we look forward to our eternal reward, which the Just Judge will grant us.