A lion or a lamb? A robe or a towel?

"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know:
the only ones among you who will be really happy
are those who have sought and found
how to serve."
Albert Schweitzer

I'm not very good at serving. I want to be, but I tend to have my own agendas, my own timetable, and being task-oriented, I like to get things done...my things. I'm quite happy to help other people, but it's better if it fits in with my plans for the day or the week.

And yet, as followers of Christ, we're supposed to serve others. And as a leader, I'm supposed to be servant-hearted. But to be honest, it's much easier said than done. I'm still trying to figure out how it all works practically.




I've been reading another Darrell W. Johnson book called "Discipleship on the Edge: an expository journey through the book of Revelation." It's fantastic...I highly recommend it. In simple yet profound words, Mr. Johnson unpacks to me what has always been a difficult book to understand, and extracts the beauty of this revelation that John was so honored to receive.




In the discussion of Revelation chapters 4 and 5, Mr. Johnson points out that when John is looking at the throne, he sees One sitting on it holding a scroll which is sealed. An angel asks who is worthy to open the scroll, but there was no one found worthy.








Devastated, John begins to weep, and then one of the elders surrounding the throne tells John to stop weeping, for the Lion has overcome. And he is able to open the scroll.














Yet when John looks back at the throne to see the Lion, what he sees is actually a Lamb, as if slain. Not a powerful victor, but a little slain lamb.



But the lamb has 7 horns and 7 eyes. Horns are the symbol of strength; 7 is the number of completeness. The little Lamb is completely strong.



Eyes are the symbol of wisdom. The little Lamb is completely wise.



The message?

The power that overcomes is the 'weakness' of sacrificial love.

The wisdom that overcomes is the 'foolishness' of sacrificial love.

The Lion gets to the throne by being a Lamb.

Jump with me to another book I'm reading called "Cross-cultural Servanthood" (Duane Elmer). He's talking about the Last Supper and the humility Jesus showed when he washed His disciples' feet. The disciples had been arguing about who was the greatest among them, and Jesus showed them it was Him by kneeling before them.



Mr. Elmer contrasts the significance of 'The Robe' or 'The Towel', and reminds us that Jesus, who is worthy to wear the Royal Robe as Lord of Lords, took the towel to highlight His self-chosen role of servant.




The message?

In the world, greatess is judged by the power a person exercises over others.

In the Kingdom of God, greatness is judged by service to people.

As children of the King, we follow Kingdom values.

The Lion gets to the throne by being a Lamb.

We follow Christ by serving others.

What does that look like practically in my daily world? Not sure yet...I'm only on Chapter 3. But I'll post my insights as I get deeper into the book, and highly welcome any feedback from you on the subject.

Servanthood. Sacrificial love. Lofty goals not possible to achieve without His Spirit working in us.

Thank you, Father, that you are with me, and that with you all things are possible.