Service Contradicts Expecting to Be Served
Service contradicts expecting to be served. You either have a servant's disposition or that of one who expects to be served. When you commit to honoring God and serving Him, you are to serve His people. This means that no matter how much status you have socially or how high up the corporate ladder you are, you still expect to serve.
When you know who you are without Jesus, and you know what He did for you and who He is, you understand that service is not an expectation from others, but serving others is the only proper response of gratitude for what He has already done, is doing, and continues to do for you.
Peter denied Jesus three times, and understandably, he was heartbroken, disturbed, and unsettled internally for what he did. Despite that, Jesus still used Peter in a major way. All He wanted from Peter, despite denying Him, was to feed His sheep, in other words, serve His people.
It was as if Jesus was saying, I know you failed me, I know you did wrong. But I still want to use you, I have forgiven you. No need to shame yourself, no need to torture yourself. No, Peter, you can never pay me back, but what you can do is serve my people!
Have you failed God? If so, don’t expect to be served, but, like Peter, serve His people as a continued gesture of thanks, just as Peter was commanded.
Matthew 26:69-75 NL - Peter Denies Jesus’
69 Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. 71 Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said. 73 A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, “You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.” 74 Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed. 75 Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.
John 21:15-17 NASB
15 Now when they had finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He *said to him, “Tend My lambs.” 16 He *said to him again, a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He *said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” 17 He *said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was hurt because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus *said to him, “Tend My sheep.”