Matthew 20:17-28

Be still: Lord, as I make space for you today, would you bring stillness to my heart and mind and prepare my soul to hear a fresh word from you today. Amen

Read: Matthew 20:17-28

Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (vv25-28)

Encounter: A friend I studied alongside at vicar school, described people who did incredible things in a hidden way as ‘stealth legends.’ These people made huge contributions to the church and ministry but no one else would know about it. It’s one thing to do something that genuinely serves someone else; it’s quite another to resist the urge to tell everyone.

Jesus invites all of us to be silent servants – 'stealth legends' in his kingdom. Sometimes we recognise what Jesus meant through a living example. One 'stealth legend' I know is my dad. Throughout my time growing up, he would say goodbye to us on a Friday or Saturday night around 11pm and come back again at 7am. During that time, he would drive to Exeter and stay on the phones overnight listening to people needing help from the Samaritans. He did it for years. He never grumbled about it. He would just quietly slip away into the night for another shift every weekend as the rest of us were going to bed. I can’t imagine the number of lives he impacted over those years as he listened to people’s deepest fears and spoke in his calm and reassuring way.

The service my dad demonstrated to me was quiet and hidden. Will it ever be recognised? No, probably not. Does that matter? No, because God sees our hidden service to him and others. This is the essence of what Jesus is saying when he encourages us to be people who serve – giving something of yourself up with no expectation of reward or care for recognition. My dad, unknowingly, during those years of silent service, showed me something of what Jesus is like.

Apply: Ask God to highlight areas of your life where you may be serving for credit or acknowledgement. Is there someone you can serve in a way that no one else would ever know?

Devote: Thank you, Lord, that you are our servant king. Help me to serve like you –and lead me to someone today I can serve in a hidden way.