There was a season of my life where I got quite involved in the TV and film stunt world. All of a sudden, any time there was a fight scene on the screen I would be analysing the choreography. My children at the time loved learning the basic moves and creating their own sword fights.
I think we're all aware that there are no shortage of samurai movies around. We love watching skilful warriors who are devoted fully to their masters. Especially when swords are involved. But did you know that the etymology of the word “samurai” is found in the verb “saburau” which means “to serve.” There’s something intrinsically noble about someone who is prepared to sacrifice their life in service to their master. For the Samurai, there is no tragedy in death, only in not living a life of service to their master.
Jesus said, ““Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:24-25 NIV).
Jesus wants us to be His samurai.
He wants us to be all in, ready to lay down our lives in service to Him. This is so much more than wishy-washy ‘serve on a roster’ business. This is “I will give myself completely. I will lay down my rights. I will deny myself, I will die to myself… all for the cause of serving my master, Jesus.”
I will be a warrior. I will fight for justice, I will fight for peace, I will fight for the Kingdom’s rule, I will fight for love. And in doing so, I will lay down my pride, my anger, my sense of injustice and I will choose to forgive, I will choose to prefer the other, I will choose to serve at great cost and expense to myself.
Don’t make the cause you fight for in life anything other than Jesus. The sacrifice is not worth it. But to give your life for someone who first did that for you? That’s when you find life. That’s a leader worth following, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45 NLT)
If you’re going to be a warrior, or servant, for anyone, be a samurai for Jesus.