6月23日

標 題：天國中最大的

經節：是誰為大，是坐席的呢？是服事人的呢？不是坐席的大嗎？然而，我在你們中如同服事人的。（路加福音廿二章27節）

在神國裡，衡量偉大人物的方式與世人大大不同。我們的社會把財富、權勢、美貌、運動能力視為偶像，甚至把那些厚顏無恥、炫耀自己不道德行為的人，當作名流。世人認為服事人是低下的工作，但神的國度完全否定世人對尊敬的評價，神的國度是以服事人的坐首席。那些無私的、仁慈的、毫不埋怨的、隱藏自己事奉的人，在神國中是最被尊崇的。

當耶穌與門徒進入樓上的房間，門徒忙著找重要的席位坐下，耶穌卻在尋找服事的場所。門徒們很尷尬地等著耶穌拿毛巾、臉盆，洗他們的腳（約翰福音十三：1∼15）。基督徒很喜歡自稱為僕人，卻很少會以僕人的待遇而心滿意足！我們往往採用世人所重視的評價。若以耶穌為自己的榜樣，我們會看到服事人比被服事的人，擁有更高貴的性情。

世人會以服事你的人數多寡，來衡量你的重要性，但神關心的是，有多少人正接受你的服事。如果以服事人為苦，你可能已經遠離神的心了。求神教導你無私，賜給你力量，能夠效法祂的榜樣。注意耶穌的邀請，好添加祂事奉的行列。

Kingdom Greatness

"For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves." (Luke 22:27)

The measure of greatness in the kingdom of God differs vastly from that of the world. Our society idolizes the rich, the powerful, the beautiful, and the athletic. We even make celebrities out of those who brazenly flaunt their immorality. The world claims it is demeaning to serve others. However, God's kingdom completely rejects the world's measure for esteem, giving the greatest honor to the one who serves most. The person who serves selflessly, lovingly, without complaint, and without seeking recognition is highly regarded in the kingdom of God.

When Jesus and His disciples entered the upper room, the disciples looked for a prominent place to sit; Jesus looked for a place to serve. As they awkwardly waited to be served, Jesus took a towel and basin and washed their feet (John 13:1–15). We Christians like to refer to ourselves as servants, but we are seldom content to be treated as servants! We are tempted to adopt the world's evaluation of importance. But when we look to Jesus as our model, we see that it takes a far more noble character to serve than to be served.

The world will estimate your importance by the number of people serving you. God is more concerned with the number of people you are serving. If you struggle to be a servant, your heart may have shifted away from the heart of God. Ask Jesus to teach you selflessness and to give you the strength to follow His example. Watch for Jesus' invitation to join Him in serving others. It will come.