SERVANT?

God hath work to do in this world; and to desert it because of its difficulties and entanglements, is to cast off His authority. It is not enough that we be just, that we be righteous, and walk with God in holiness; but we must also serve our generation, as David did before he fell asleep. God hath a work to do; and not to help Him is to oppose Him.
- JOHN OWEN

A few years ago my husband had the privilege to preach on the subject of "Humility". He shared a story of a Chinese man that was put in jail because of his faith in Christ. He was put in the hole to work. Every day he would have to shovel the excrements all day long. He did this daily for all the time he spent in prison without complaint. A few years after he was released from this hell hole, he ran into one the guards from the prison. The guard asked him in bewilderment "How is it you spent all that time in that slop and come out of there everyday with a content look on your face and never complained?" The man answered, " Every morning when the machines were turned on, it would be the time I would be able to recite verses from the Bible out loud and sing the hymns I had learned and fellowship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." "It was those times while I was in prision I cherished the most!"

What a servant of Christ! He worked in such a lowely job and found joy in it! Jesus was a fine example of Servant hood.

(John 13:3-5 NIV) 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that He had come from God; and that He was returning to God. 4 so He got up from the meal and, and took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him.

He got down on His knees to wash the disciple's feet, when in fact they should have been on their knees with thanksgiving. Jesus is our greatest example of servanthood, the One that should have been served, yet was the servant.

Are we willing to wash each others feet? Are we willing to be in Jail and praise the Lord at the same time?

We are to serve God because we want to, not because we have to, not half-heartly but whole heartly. How far are we willing to go, to serve Christ. When we look at Paul and how He suffered in the name of Christ and the many Christian martyrs who have laid down their lives for Christ.

Christians brothers and sisters we have a cross to carry through our lives. Jesus promised us that our burdens will be light. We all will suffer some sort of humility when we stand up for our faith, but we will have the Holy Spirit there assuring us we are doing right. I think as the years go by, it will get harder and harder to be a servant for Christ. As Satan realizes the battle is lost, he will make it tougher for those that are true servants of Christ. The cost will not make a difference compared to the prize because we know the price is paid in full! When you look at the words "It is finished", we already know it is "Paid in Full"

Eph. 6:10 "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints...."

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
forward into battle see his banners go!
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.

God bless all the servants of God!
Cristina