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            Serving others is not an easy thing to do in our society, especially when the secular world trains us to have inward thinking. As we seek a life that is obedient to God, we must strive to live like a servant. To begin to live a life of servanthood we must concentrate on three important elements: the heart of a servant, the key to servanthood, and thinking like a servant.[1] By understanding these three elements we can live a life of servanthood, and obedience to God.

The key to servanthood begins with keeping our eyes on Jesus and exemplifying his actions and words. Understanding what matters most to Him, transforms our priorities and we begin to care deeply about the things that are closest to His heart.[2] Jesus, the ultimate servant, who demonstrated every element of a true servant minded leader. Focusing on Jesus will allow us to comprehend his character and his mission through the words He spoke. He gives us a firm understanding of who he is and what his mission is when he states, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45, NIV).[3] Just as Jesus willingly suffered for us as a servant to His father, we must also willingly put the needs of others before our own desires and serve our Heavenly Father.

Having the heart of a servant means living a life that honors God and reflects Christ’s values through the character values exemplified in the love that comes from our inner being. Living with the heart of a servant can be applied through selfless acts of love towards others like small acts of kindness, being an active listener, and volunteering your free time to help others with simple tasks. God has blessed each and everyone of us with specific talents and abilities. These gifted attributes are not designed to be used selfishly. Peter instructs us on how to be servant minded while using the talents God has blessed us with. He states, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 4:10-11, NIV).

            Thinking like a servant involves a mindset that continuously denies our own desires, and puts the needs of others first. By focusing on others first, our mindset shifts from us to them. A mindset that focuses outward instead of inward is not easy to do for many people.[4] Paul brings great encouragement to the way we must think like a servant when loving our neighbors as ourselves. He inspires us by saying, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love” (Galatians 5:13, NIV).

            Servanthood is a voluntary form of selfless love for others, loving them as Jesus loves all of us. It should be our mission to live with the heart and mindset that Jesus had. In the end we should all strive to hear the words, “well done good and faithful servant” (Matt 25:23, NIV).

Questions to Consider

1. Where can you serve today that will make an impact in your neighborhood or community to share the love of Jesus with others?

2. Take a moment to reflect on your life. Where are there opportunities for you to think like a servant and make a positive impact?

Closing Prayer

            Heavenly Father, I ask you today to make we aware of the areas that I have a tendency to focus inwardly in my life. Teach me, oh Lord, how to have a heart of a servant and think outwardly to exemplify your love to others. Help me focus my mind on Jesus and the servant leader He was, so that I can be a leader like Him through my words and actions. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!

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[1] James Johnson, “Cultivating a Servant’s Heart: A Path to Living Like Jesus,” Daily Christian Journey, (November 28, 2024), accessed September 1, 2025, www.dailychristianjourney.com/2024/11/28/cultivating-a-servants-heart-a-path-to-living-like-jesus.

[2] Ibid.

[3] James Johnson, “Cultivating a Servant’s Heart: A Path to Living Like Jesus,” Daily Christian Journey,

(11/28/2024), accessed September 1, 2025, www.dailychristianjourney.com/2024/11/28/cultivating-a-servants-heart-a-path-to-living-like-jesus.

[4] Ibid.

Before diving into the Gospel of Mark let us take time to understand how to apply the Bible faithfully to our lives. Faithful application begins with faithful interpretation. This means we cannot apply the Bible correctly without understanding the meaning of what we are reading. This process is called exegesis, and it is all about understanding the original meaning of a passage. We must first ask, “What did this mean to the people it was originally written to?” before we ask, “How does this apply to me today?” Once we understand the meaning of the past we can then understand how to apply it.[1]

UNDERSTANDING MARK: LAYING THE FOUNDATION

Mark is the shortest of the four Gospels and is structured in two different halves. The first half of Mark’s Gospel reveals the identity of Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God (Mark 1:1–8:30), with the key word being “authority.” Jesus does everything with authority! The climax of the gospel is in the confession of Peter. Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do people say I am?” Peter answers for the others: “You are the Messiah!” All the authority Jesus has displayed has made an impact on Peter and revealed to him that Jesus is indeed the Messiah and the Savior.[2]

The second half tells us about the mission of Jesus (Mark 8:31–16:8), as a Suffering Servant. In the next three chapters Jesus predicts his suffering and death three separate times (Mark 8:31; Mark 9:31; Mark 10:34). These predictions lead us to our monthly memory verse of Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

At the end of His mission, we see Jesus on the cross, fulling the scriptures as He cries out the words of Psalm 22:1: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34).

WHO WAS MARK?

Mark is recognized as John Mark, cousin of Barnabas (Col 4:10). He worked with Barnabas and the apostle Paul (Acts 13:5; Acts 13:13; Acts 15:37-41; 2 Tim 4:11). He also spent time with Peter in Rome (1 Peter 5:13). Papias, the early church father, tells us that Mark became Peter’s interpreter and that his writings are a reflect Peter.[3]

Another important verse to study and understand in Mark’s Gospel is, “Whoever wants to be my disciple,” Jesus says, “must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34). We will study this verse later as we continue our study of Mark’s Gospel in the coming weeks.

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[1] Derrick Rugamba, “What is Biblical Application?” In Truth She Delights, last updated January 21, 2025, www.intruthshedelights.com/what-is-biblical-application/.

[2] Mark L. Strauss, “Mark: The Gospel of the Servant-Messiah The Once-Neglected Gospel,” Bible Project, last updated September 16, 2017, www.bibleproject.com/articles/mark-gospel-servant-messiah/.

[3] Ibid.

Bibliography

Rugamba, Derrick. “What is Biblical Application?” In Truth She Delights. Last updated January 21, 2025. www.intruthshedelights.com/what-is-biblical-application/.

Strauss, Mark L. “Mark: The Gospel of the Servant-Messiah The Once-Neglected Gospel.” Bible Project. Last updated September 16, 2017. www.bibleproject.com/articles/mark-gospel-servant-messiah/.