Serve or Be Served: What is your branch of service?

Consider the mindset of service of three enlisted men: a seaman, a CEO and a Son.

Doris Miller enlisted in the Navy to serve his country. The Navy assigned him to serve tables in the mess hall on the USS West Virginia during a time when these kinds of jobs were relegated to negros in a segregated military. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, Miller swept aside the pots and pans, carried wounded sailors to safety, then manned an anti-aircraft gun, and without training, shot down six enemy planes. He was awarded a medal, promoted back to the kitchen as a cook. Two years later he died in combat. He had a mind to serve.

Mike Mason enlisted in school district. Before that he held many positions in life: a captain in the Marines; the No.4 man at the FBI; an executive at a Fortune 500 company.  At 63, Mike retired with a formidable resume, only to trade it in for one of the most important positions he has ever held—driving a school bus he polished himself. "I think in our society we need to get next to the idea that there are no unimportant jobs. Mike had a mind to  serve.

Then there was Jesus Christ—a carpenter who enlisted as a savior. He healed the sick, raised the dead and died on a cross for the sins of the world. He had a mind to serve as the Son of God. What was the makeup of this mind that can be your mindset of service.

Humility is the makeup of the mind of Christ.  Christ had quite a resume and reputation.

Philippians 2:7-8   but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself… Philippians 2:7-8   

He was the Son God, equal to God. He wore a uniform—greater than that of a Medal of Honor winner or FBI agent— a wardrobe of perfection and supremacy. Yet, He voluntarily exchanged His Deity, His Priestly robe for a servant’s apron and a towel. That takes humility, to go from God to lowering oneself to literally become a washer of feet, as He did to the disciples in John 13:1–17. 

In a lesser, but no less profound way, you can set aside (but not devalue) your past credentials for the “street cred” of sweaty brows and calloused hands for the sake of service to others.  No job is unimportant.

Second, obedience is the makeup of the mind of Christ:

…and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:8 

Christ answered God’s call to be a “John 3:16” gift of salvation to the world, to leave His heavenly throne for an inglorious earthly existence whose end was death on a cross.  Jesus had a choice, but as His Garden of Gethsemane prayer displays, He chose the cup of suffering over an easier path, so that God’s will would be done (Luke 22:42).  His obedience was a full commitment.

Mike’s –the CEO turned bus driver—-obedience was lesser, but no less profound. He was obedient to a call to do more.  "I still had a mind, and I still had things I was capable of doing," he said. He gave up his life of leisure  for  busloads of kids  seeking a better life through a good education.

Mike would get up at 5 a.m. to drive special-needs children to school. whenever you set aside serving self for serving another, it is a sort of death of self. That is the ultimate mind of Christ.

“...the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” . Matthew 20:28

When it comes to which branch of service to enlist--to serve or to be served—consider the examples of these three enlisted men: a seaman, a CEO and especially the Son of God. Unretire. Fight like Doris, drive like Mike and die to self like Christ.

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Read an inspiring story of the necessity of sacrifice in the pursuit of justice: A Forgiving Fire. Go to aforgivingfire.com.