Disciples Path: Week 4: Day 1 – God is Not Seeking Volunteers

John 13:14-15, CEB

If I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you too must wash each other’s feet.  I have given you an example: Just as I have done, you also must do.

                Jesus, God of the all that is, described Himself as a servant.  His actions matched that description; He served those he lead and He expected them to do the same.  He expects us to be servants – not volunteers.  A volunteer is not the same as a servant.  A volunteer is someone making a temporary decision to do a specific task.  A servant serves even when they would otherwise choose to do something else.     Servant is who someone IS; a volunteer is just making an impermanent choice.  A volunteer is making a choice to do something they want to do.  A servant is making a choice to do the will of Someone Else.

                John Wesley wrote a prayer that has become a standard in many Methodist traditions.  He used it at the beginning of each year to renew congregations commitment to Christ.  It is called the Covenant Prayer, but what it affirms is our commitment to be servants, not volunteers.  I invite you to read through and then go back and pray this prayer today:

                “I am no longer my own, but thine.  Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.  Put me to doing, put me to suffering.  Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee.  Let me be full, let me be empty.  Let me have all things, let me have nothing.  I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.  And now, O glorious and blessed God,  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.”

Song:  Wesley Prayer (Come Like a Fire)