What if we started with a man. That's what we like to talk about, isn't it? Our men. Well, this one's name is James. And he's one of my favorites. Most people believe he was the brother of Jesus. He has a lot of good stuff to say - he's full of encouragement and life and hope... but he has a lot of hard things to say as well.
He describes himself as a "servant" of Christ. Now, let's buy into the idea that he was Jesus's brother. Wouldn't you announce yourself as that? Where would your heart have to be to call yourself a servant.
I like being a servant. Well, if I get the oooo-s and ahhh-s when I set my masterful cake on the table. I like being the servant when people I love need me to do something I enjoy doing for them. I like being the servant when it's easy. When it's fun. When it's dramatic. When it's rewarding.
I like to be the servant when it's my choice.
But... ummm... James didn't really use a word that means that kind of servant. He used the word slave. Oh. A slave who is a slave by force - or by choice. And that slave word comes from the Greek word deō which is a verb meaning "to bind, tie, or wind". It doesn't sound so pleasant. Goodness, I get panicky if my headphone cords get all tangled up around my neck.
Galatians 5: 13 says that we are called to be free... we aren't called to be slaves. Were we? Paul goes on to say that we are to use that freedom - not for our sinful nature - but to serve one another in love.
I've been thinking a lot about that verse that says "A cord of three strands cannot be easily broken." It's talking about relationship. It's talking about being so untied in love that we are tangled up in each other. It's about becoming servants of each other. It's about becoming slaves to each other. And it's about choosing to be slaves to one another.
Italians, as well as many Europeans greet each other with the word, "Ciao." It comes from the Venetian phrase of "I am your servant." What if that was really how we greeted our spouses, our children, our co-workers, our neighbors... what if when we said hello, we were really thinking, "I am your servant"?
And what if when we made that our first prayer of the day and the one we cried before going to sleep? Lord, I am Your servant.
And what if we lived lives so full of God and His love and grace that when people thought of us they thought, "There goes a woman who is a servant of God."
So, this echos what I read in "Becoming a Vessel God Can Use" by Donna Partow. She talks about being a servant of God and wanting people to notice us b/c of the God we serve not b/c of all that we do. We can't really be used by God is we are looking at ourselves and comparing ourselves to others leaving us with a yucky, stinky judging heart stuck on SELF! I have been challenged by that this year as I give up my pride and perfectionism (and people pleasing tendencies) for grace and looking to God as the one who validates me and the one I answer to. Then he blesses me with grace in my relationships, with myself and the ability to laugh at life not get all fussy when I don't "get it right". He is a good God!
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, Jason and I have really been stuggling with our decision about his career. God has not made things clear except one thing: whatever we decide it must be by faith. Faith is a scary thing b/c I always want the details spelled out for me. I don't want to take chances. But the people in my life that do go on the adventure and take the chances for God are so blessed and full of joy. Guess God does keep his promises. Please pray for me that I can believe and JUMP when he asks me to. Life is pretty big and scary many days.....
P.S. I have been thinking about this idea of service (mostly b/c I want to teach Mabry to be a servant) so today we weeded our neighbor's flower bed. It was fun, and no one will know it was us. :) (except you all)