February 2

It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave— — Matt 20:26-27 BSB

The literal meaning of the word doulos is “slave.”

The first word used for service is diakanos, which means ministering to others in everyday work. But doulos means “bondslave,” and here, the Lord teaches us that the highest form of service is that of a bondslave.

Jesus Himself became the servant of all, and those who would come closest to Him must learn this spirit of service—one that renounces personal rights and claims forever.

It’s possible to be completely loyal to Jesus and still, for His sake, serve under others in authority. The spirit of doulos is one of self-renunciation and joyful submission to proper authority, serving without self-interest, giving up personal preferences and desires for the glory of God and the sake of others.

Lord, clothe us with humility and make us wholly Yours.