The Form of a Servant

The Form of a Servant

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Phil. 2:5-8.

Jesus did not take the form of a leader, but the form of a servant. He was in the form of God, but He did not consider it robbery to assert Himself in this position.

In our days, one can see that many priests (for example) consider it robbery to be like a priest, so that one can even see it on their face that they look like a priest.

There are many people who take the form of a leader instead of the form of a servant in our assemblies.

However, Jesus renounced being like God of His own accord and took the form of a servant. But does that mean that Jesus was forgotten because He renounced being like God and humbled Himself?

Peter says about Him: “Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you . . . .” Acts 2:22.

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him . . . .” Phil. 2:9.

It is in vain for someone to assert himself as a leader, shepherd, teacher, or as being holy. God is the One who points out the man who is according to His heart in an assembly or among the people.

However, God does not confirm any man who has not truly renounced everything.

In an assembly many people can compete for the leadership—but we become one when we agree to serve.

A servant is confirmed by God. “If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.” John 12:26.

How does God honor servants? He points them out in the midst of the church as someone who is a teacher, shepherd, leader, or an evangelist.

Such people do not consider it robbery to be anything above anyone else; they always remain in the form of a servant.

Paul calls himself, “Your servant for Jesus’ sake.” If God points someone out to be a leader who is in the form of a servant, then this person does not take the form of a leader; he keeps the form of a servant.

God appoints. Pray to God that He may drive out laborers into His harvest.

He Came in the Likeness of Men

There is a temptation among believers to assume a holy dignity in other people’s eyes, so that they knowingly appear in the form and in the light that God has given them. However, God has not appointed anyone to dupe others with their holiness.

In His appearance He was found as a man. There are sure to be many people who give in to the temptation to be found to appear as very holy, as very filled with the Spirit, as very good and generous, as very assured in God’s will—they consider it robbery to be more like God—than their brothers, and in their appearance they want to be found more in the form of God than in the form of men. They consciously put a holiness distance between themselves and their brothers—and they let the others feel that distance.

When Jesus, in His conduct, was found as a man, He humbled Himself. Always deeper! This is an amazing holiness, whose goal was not to show off its holiness (by secret pride), but to be holy.

When the saints, by their conduct, are found to be men, they, too, will humble themselves, for they realize that there is so much left that is still lacking in being conformed to the image of Jesus. Crushed, they humbly fall down at His feet, becoming increasingly lowly in their own eyes.

Those who are found to be more like God in their conduct than other saints, considering it a robbery, will not humble themselves as the humble saints, but they exalt themselves.

He Became Obedient to the Point of Death

The person who has taken the form of a servant must also be found to have the mind of a servant and a servant’s willingness to help.

Often we let others feel more of a distance in understanding, in light, and in holiness than the mind of a servant and love.

Even though we must let light and judgment pour out over other people’s lives, it must, at the same time, be in relation to the help we can give them, as in, “Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.” Rom. 5:20.

Therefore, where I, by giving light, let others feel their impurity and lack of holiness, I must also to a much greater degree let them feel love and my willingness to serve.

Finney chastised the assembly so that they gnashed their teeth, but at the same time he wept with compassion over them. The judgment over their lives was severe, but he always let them feel that his love for them was greater. Love could set them free, so that judgment could return to righteousness.

When you, by giving light, bring judgment over other people’s lives, do not let them feel a cold distance of holiness, but rather a serving love in which the distance of holiness vanishes to the point where they are not aware of it, but it is replaced by fellowship instead.

If you have taken the form of a servant and others do not hear you, then do not draw back, taking the form of someone who is better than the others—in a withdrawn, spiritual self-exaltation (exclusiveness), but go away in a form of a servant, leaving the other person with a sense of your servant’s mind and love—that he might yet reflect on the matter.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.