Taking The Stairs Of Service

"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)

Have you ever taken the easy way out when faced with a challenging task?

When my friend Zig Ziglar visited the Washington Monument, there was a two-hour wait for the elevator to the top. The guide smiled and announced, "Now there's no wait if you're willing to take the stairs." Not surprisingly, there wasn't a rush to climb those 896 steps.

This example shows the difference between worldly success and kingdom greatness. In God's eyes, you don't get to take an elevator to significance—you take the stairs of service. Jesus declared in today’s verse, "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)

The One who deserved to be served chose to serve. He created you with the same purpose. Like birds created to sing and bees created to produce honey, you were designed from the beginning to make a difference through service.

Where is God asking you to take the stairs today? Maybe it's volunteering in your church, helping a neighbor, or listening to someone hurting. Remember, every act of service you perform horizontally for others is simultaneously a vertical act of worship to God.

The measure of your greatness isn't how many people serve you, but how many people you serve. Start climbing those stairs today.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for modeling true greatness through service. Help me see opportunities to serve others today and give me the courage to take the stairs rather than looking for the elevator. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.