You are Not an Apostle

YOU ARE NOT AN APOSTLE!!!! Is a servant of God not enough? People picture a servant as a pathetic cretin without will or purpose, bent over, crushed in spirit, dirty, wrinkled, and weary-an exploited human mule without meaning in a desolate life. Say the word servant, and the word hangs in the throats of twenty-first-century Christians. Say the word servant and watch as nostrils flare, heads shake, and people start using words like fanaticism. Saying the word servant will create a stampede toward the back door. Many are willing to serve God but only in the capacity of a consultant. In these circles, people would rather be a monument of taco flower power than a bondservant to the Lord Jesus Christ. These people have so much pride; they are blowing up like cocoa puffs. Most churches are filled with pompous toads, carrying a Bible, and full of hot air, choosing symbolism over substance. Our souls should weep in secret for these people's pride. It's better to stay with the lowly than share plunder with the proud. Are we thriving to serve popularity and not Jesus Christ? If people could, they would add apostle or prophet to their driver's licenses. I would rather limp into heaven as a servant than strut like a peacock into hell. Those who have truly encountered the Lord walk with a limp, not a strut. One of the last pictures Jesus gave the church of Himself was that of a servant in the upper room. The disciples are returning from the journey and preparing to celebrate Passover. Their feet are dirty, and the Servant of the world takes a towel, kneels, and washes them. Why? Because He was strong enough to kneel-you have to be strong enough to kneel. How did Jesus Christ introduce Himself? "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve..." (Mark 10:45, NKJV). How did Paul introduce himself? "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus..." (Romans 1:1, NIV). How did James introduce himself? "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ..." (James 1:1, NIV). John introduces himself as a servant and gives us the travel brochure of Revelation: "...to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John..." (Revelation 1:1, KJV). "The greatest among you is the Servant of all!" We are like men when we curse one another. We are like criminals when we hate one another. We are like beasts when we devour one another. We are like Christ when we serve one another.