A Christian, like Christ his head, is free from all works, yet he ought to empty himself of his liberty, take on him the form of a servant, be made in the likeness of men, be found in fashion as a man, serve, help, and in every way act towards his neighbor as he sees that God through Christ has acted and is acting towards him. All this he should do freely, and with regard to nothing but the good pleasure of God.
–Martin Luther
Martin Luther tells us that as Christians we are to be like Jesus Christ. Because of grace we are free from having to do works to earn salvation. But after receiving salvation that is by grace alone, we are called to empty ourselves of our liberty and do good works toward others. That is what Jesus did for us, and we are to be a servant to Him and to others, following the example of our Great King and seeking to please Him by our lives. This is taken directly from Philippians 2, where we find Paul telling us to be…
…of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
For this reason, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
May we give up our liberty and serve others with humility to please our Great God and King, the One who served us in love first.