7‑Eleven servants ∙∙

7‑Eleven servants ∙∙

Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me. – John 12:26

Matthew 20:25-28

 25 But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them.

 26 But among you, it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,

 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.

 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Thank Heaven for 7-Eleven! The 7‑Eleven brand is recognized and cherished worldwide. Many of their iconic products have become ingrained in American culture. At 7‑Eleven, they are deeply committed to their customers, embodying a success story built on understanding and addressing customer needs. Their unwavering focus is on making life easier for their patrons.

Their principle is simple: “Give the customers what they want, when, and where they want it.” This straightforward idea propelled them to be a marketplace leader. 7‑Eleven has a storied legacy of innovation, having virtually created the convenience store industry. They were among the pioneers who offered 24-hour service, understanding that true service means being available and willing to help, even when it’s not convenient. Their readiness to serve transforms what seems inconvenient into convenience.

The Father seeks 7‑Eleven-like servants. He would likely appreciate a new motto: Thank Heaven for 7‑Eleven servants of the King.

John 12:26 Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

Jesus called His followers servants. Following the Lord Jesus Christ means becoming a servant of the King. But what does it mean to be a successful servant?

Our eternal destiny is secure when we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. At that moment, the Father could take us home, allowing us to enjoy His presence forever. So why does He leave us to live out our appointed days on earth?

There are many valid answers to this question. One significant reason is that the Father wants us to be His servants on earth. To fulfill this role, we must develop a servant mentality. Ultimately, the Father is in charge. His servants are no longer self-centered but become “Father-centric.” We are here to serve the Father, not the other way around. A servant mentality recognizes that our purpose on earth is not to serve ourselves but to be the Father’s servants.

This is a big hurdle, indeed! But once we are on the other side, we have the opportunity to be genuinely successful servants. A 7‑Eleven servant dedicates their time, resources, energy, money, loyalty, and expertise. Similarly, as children of the King, we should surrender and offer everything we have to the Father. The Father does not need our possessions and does not intend to keep them. Instead, He returns everything to us, asking that we use it wisely in His service.

Our purpose in life is to please Him, and in turn, He places people in our lives for us to serve and care for.

Matthew 10:24 Disciples are not greater than their teacher, and slaves are not greater than their master.

The Message Bible paraphrases it as “A student doesn’t get a better desk than their teacher. A laborer doesn’t make more money than their boss.”

In the TV show, NCIS, Special Agent in Charge Leroy Jethro Gibbs is referred to as “The Boss.” All the special agents reporting to him call him “Boss.”

When we choose to become servants of the Father, we relinquish being the boss of our own little worlds, let alone the universe. Our mindset shifts to, “I serve the Boss. I am a servant of the King of kings and Lord of lords.” The struggle ends, and we find contentment in joining Him in His kingdom’s purposes.

REFLECT & PRAY

Be mindful of where you position yourself; embracing humility is far better than facing humiliation before your peers and superiors.

Father, I desire to be Your servant. Instill within me a servant’s mindset and motivate me to live it out.

INSIGHT

Once we become children of the King, a fitting attitude naturally follows. Servants understand that, regardless of their social standing or status, they are always ready to take the lowest place.

Instead of seeking a position among the great, they humbly place themselves below their rank. It’s far better to embrace humility than to face humiliation. It’s much wiser to start at a lower level and be invited to rise than to be demoted. It’s better to adopt a humble position and be promoted than to be presumptuous and corrected.

Proverbs 25:6-7

 6 Do not honor yourself before the king or push for a place among the great.

 7 It’s better to wait for an invitation to the head table than to be sent away in public disgrace.

The Hebrew term translated as “honor yourself” or “put yourself forward” is “hadar.” Within its semantic range, hadar also means to claim honor, seek favoritism or respect, thrust yourself forward, exalt yourself, or be puffed up.

Luke 14:8-11

 8 When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited?

 9 The host will come and say, “Give this person your seat.” Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table!

 10 Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then, when your host sees you, he will come and say, “Friend, we have a better place for you!” Then, you will be honored in front of all the other guests.

 11 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Humility is considered a fundamental grace of the Christian faith, but it can be challenging to attain. There’s a saying that if you realize you possess humility, you have actually lost it. Humility is not about having a low opinion of ourselves but rather about not focusing on ourselves at all.

The Lord Jesus Christ is frequently hailed as the ultimate embodiment of humility. His life and actions serve as an unparalleled example, urging us to strive for a similar mindset. In Philippians 2:1-16, we are encouraged to seek the guidance and strength of the Holy Spirit to emulate His humility.

The selfless love and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ set the gold standard for how we should live our lives – putting others before ourselves and embodying true servant leadership. By inviting the Holy Spirit to work within us, we can follow in His footsteps and reflect His grace and humility in our daily lives. (Wiersbe)

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© Dr. H 2024