By: Walt Tilley
Working here at Hume Lake, over the years, we get a lot of questions
from our staffers. One of the more frequent questions is, “How will I
know what God’s will is for my life?” It sounds like a deep question, but
there are some simple biblical truths that can be applied to our
daily walk that would answer that question and lead us to what God
ultimately has for us.
First things first, do you know Him? God wants us to believe in his Son
(Romans 10:9) and be one of His disciples. So, what does it mean to be a
disciple? A disciple of Jesus is a worshipper, a servant, a witness, and
someone who follows His teachings.
The hardest for most of us is the idea we are called to be a servant. Jesus
makes it abundantly clear that we are to be servants. To put someone
else’s needs before our own. Remember, Jesus did not come into this
world the first time as the Conquering King but as the suffering servant
in Isaiah 53. Jesus makes it clear that His disciples must do the Father’s
will(servanthood). In John 5:19, “Then Jesus answered and said to them,
‘Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what
He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like
manner.’” In John 13:1-17 there is a great example of Jesus doing the
work of a lowly servant. In this passage, Jesus shows His disciples that
since there was no servant to perform the washing of their feet, He was
willing to do this for them. The disciples should have seen this need and
been willing to wash His feet, but remember; these were the same guys
who had just been arguing about who was the greatest (Luke 22:24). Jesus’s act
stunned the disciples. Peter’s response was to refuse His act of
servanthood, but Jesus told him, “Unless I do this, you have no part with
Me.” Peter overreacted and wanted Jesus to give him a bath. Jesus told
him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely
clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” Since Jesus knew who
would betray Him, He said, “You are not all clean.” Imagine what Judas
must have been thinking when all this was happening. How could I have
fallen for this guy? I am sure it just reinforced his resolve in the betrayal
of the Savior. Jesus was a faithful servant of His Father’s will to the very
end and beyond. He prayed to His Father that night, “not my will but
Yours be done.”
I have seen some great examples of a servant’s heart here at Hume
Lake. Staffers that never thought a task was beneath them. Stopping to
pick up a piece of trash or assisting in another department, not thinking,
“it’s not my job.”
Friends, each one of us who are His are called to be servants of the King
of Kings and Lord of Lords. What might God be asking you to do that you
may believe is beneath you? Remember what He has done for us. The
Lord wants servants that are faithful even in the small things (Matthew
25:23) and great will be your reward. Are you willing to say, not my will,
Father, but yours be done?
So, it’s really not that hard to know what God’s will is for your life today
and every day. Be faithful in the small things. Be a servant of the Lord.
My prayer for us is that the Lord would find us faithful to what He has
called us to do and to hear Him say, “well done, good and faithful
servant.”
Walt and his wife, Tamara, have worked at Hume for decades! They have had a tremendous impact on the ministry and Walt’s servant leadership has impacted many Hume staff over the years! What a huge blessing they are to the ministry of Hume.
