Remain in the Form of a Servant

Remain in the Form of a Servant

It is written in Phil. 2:7: “But made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.” Jesus took the form of a servant when He came to earth. He kept it until the very end. At the very end of His life, in Gethsemane, He prayed: “. . . not as I will, but as You will.” Matt. 26:39. In order to remain in the form of a servant, He had to humble Himself, obeying the voice of the Father within Him. Phil. 2:8. There, Jesus opened up the way of salvation—salvation from all the pride that entered into the flesh through the Fall. Jesus says: “Where I am, there My servant will be also.” John 12:26. There are tremendous forces in the flesh that push upward. If I am to remain in the form of a servant, I need to follow Jesus’ voice within me, and be where He is. There I continually hear: “Not my will,” not my imaginations, no “thought castles” of my own, or anything about how others should be, or how things should have been, etc.

Jesus is the Head, and we are His servants. I need to remain in this position until the very end. There are always some of these proud thoughts that must be crucified. The question is whether I will receive the grace to find my own life— only then can I lose it by His power.

Jesus’ battle is described in Heb. 5:7. He was the one who never committed sin; no deceit was found in His mouth. He fought in this way until the very end, and then it says so encouragingly: “. . . and was heard because of His godly fear.” It is this godly fear that I need to live by in order to remain in the form of a servant. In addition, I need to acknowledge the huge danger there is that I could come out of the form of a servant.

There are different times in life and various external circumstances. Paul writes about riches, poverty, persecution, honor, dishonor, etc. But in all these things, he proved himself to be a servant of God. 2 Cor. 6:4-10. It is godly fear that prevents me from coming out of having the form of a servant and that can preserve me through the various times and circumstances of life. Through this, I partake in the tremendous salvation that I have been called to. I humble myself, and acknowledge that I have a flesh in which nothing good dwells. It is only through the fear of God that I can remain close to Him, so that He stays close to me, so I can be saved from my pride. If I live in His presence, then I can see my pride, and I will cry out in need for salvation.

It is written in Isa. 57:15: “For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.’” It is in such people that He can do His work of salvation. I also must remain in this form of a bondservant in my service in the church, among the friends where Jesus has placed me to serve, not to rule.

It is written further in Ch. 58 about the right kind of fasting. Here you can see how easy it is to come out of being a servant, how easy it is to start placing burdens on others, and to bind them firmly in your thoughts. V. 6-7. It is this true worship of God that enables me to serve others and help where there is need. “Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness.” V. 8-9.

The promises written in V. 10-12 are for such a servant of the Lord: “. . . then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday.” In this form of a servant, I can help to edify and serve the church as it is written in V. 12: “. . . and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, the Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.” Then those closest to me can feel safe and blessed.