John 13:5

There was . . . a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

Not to sit on a lifted throne, nor to rule superbly alone; not to be ranked on the left or right in the kingdom’s glory, the kingdom’s might; not to be great and first of all, not to hold others in humble thrall; not to lord it over the world, a scepter high and a flag unfurled; not with authority, not with pride, vain dominion, mastery wide— nothing to wish for, nothing to do—not, in short, to be ministered to! Ah, but to minister! Lowly to sup with the servant’s bread and the servant’s cup; down where the waters of sorrow flow; full-baptized in the stream of woe; out where the people of sorrow are, walking brotherly, walking far; known to bitterness, known to sin, to the poor and wretched comrade and kin; so to be helper, the last and the least serf in the kingdom, slave at the feast; so to obey, and so to defer, and so, my Savior, to minister. Yes, for never am I alone: this is Thy glory and this is Thy throne. Infinite Servant, well may I be bondman and vassal and toiler—with Thee. AMOS R. WELLS

I would be simply used, Spending myself in humble task or great, Priest at the altar, keeper of the gate, So be my Lord requireth just that thing Which at the needful moment I may bring. O joy of serviceableness Divine! Of merging will and work, dear Lord, in Thine, Of knowing that results, however small, Fitly into Thy stream of purpose fall. I would be simply used! ANONYMOUS