I remember a little while ago learning that Christ is portrayed slightly different in each of the gospels. In Matthew, Christ is portrayed as a King. In Mark, He is portrayed as a Servant. In Luke, He is portrayed as a Man. And in John, He is portrayed as God. 

This past week, I experienced Christ as a Servant. About a month ago, I started working at Texas Roadhouse as a waiter. Being a waiter, I get the opportunity to meet all kinds of people. Nice people, mean people, rude people, loud people, sincere people. Every table is different, but even still, you usually get two types of tables. People who are generally positive and seem like they’ll tip you a lot and the people who are rude, needy, and seem like they won’t tip you hardly anything. I noticed myself this past week starting to not try as hard on the tables that are difficult and seemingly won’t tip me much anyways. Those types of tables have started to fall at the bottom of my priority list. I usually have the thought, “Why try so hard when they’re just rude and aren’t going to tip me well anyways?” 

One instance during my shift, I deliberately chose to pay more attention to the table that treated me better and seemed like they would tip me more. In that moment I felt the Lord start to bother me. I started thinking about how He served people. And how unappreciated He was. Even in His own town. His family at times didn’t even seem to appreciate Him that much. But the Lord served all kinds of people, not based on what they gave Him in return or the thankfulness people showed Him afterwards, but based on His pure love for them. The Lord, at times, was appreciated by no one. And then this verse popped up in my head:

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

It’s so easy for me to only serve when it could be noticed or recognized, but to serve someone in such a pure way like the Lord did is something far from me most days. After this experience, I want to start caring for all of my tables equally. Not just because it’s my job either, but because the Lord in me loves all kinds of people, even if they don’t love me back.

              The next day at work, I experienced a certain kind of joy that is hard to put words to. There have been a few instances where my tables have been pretty rude and harsh toward me and, walking away, I felt the Lord’s love for them. It gave me a kind of peace and joy that kept me from feeling like the world was falling apart or kept me from getting upset. It motivated me to serve my tables even in a kind of hidden way. To go the extra mile without them even knowing. I’m really thankful that the Lord can show us, through small interactions, what kind of person He is. Christ is so big, and I’m so thankful that this past week I got to know Him a little more as a Servant.