CALLED TO SERVE

A Christian is called to be the ‘official representative’ of his LORD and Master. A Christian is the ‘ambassador’ [2 Cor. 5:20] of the King of all creation, and the LORD God Almighty. 

Of the many things, the LORD, our Creator, Redeemer and our Master has explicitly commanded us to be like Him, in all things. We see this in Luke 22:27 and in John 13:14-15 – “27 For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.” “14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” Can it get any clearer than this?

The underlying principle behind such a command is that, the LORD desires us to have, a different and higher set of values, ethics and principles as His children and ambassadors of the kingdom of God. Again the LORD makes this position very clear in Matthew 20:27-28 – “27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Such an attitude is seen in the English Puritan writer and preacher John Bunyan, the author of Pilgrim’s Progress, who died at the age of 60 on 31 August 1688 – that is, today 334 years back. Though Bunyan was one of England’s most famous authors, even in his own day, yet he maintained his pastoral duties right untill his death. Rather, his death came about because he was serving his LORD and Master faithfully and obediently. Bunyan died because of a cold he caught, while riding through the rain, to reconcile a father and son. What love for the LORD, and His people!!!

Do we we have such faithful servants in the kingdom of God today? How about us? What cost are we willing to pay in serving our LORD and our Master?