April 2017

“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:1–2 (ESV)
We began our journey considering the opening about how we want to be regarded. In February we asked, what does it mean to be “servants of Christ”? “What is a servant?” March followed with the critically important affirmation that Jesus Christ is Lord. It is essential to identify whose servant we are.
Let us now explore servanthood. In Isaiah 42:1–4 (ESV) “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. 2 He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; 3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. 4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.” In this model the power of the relationship comes first. “my chosen, in whom my soul delights;” Is that an accurate description of your relationship to Christ? Are you assured that you are His because of His amazing grace calling you into a reconciled relationship? When Christians talk about assurance we frequently fall into the trap of identifying the things we have done such as praying, going forward at an altar call or giving up something. My alternative suggestion is simply “DTR” All relationships are volitional acts. you know in your heart (of heart) where you are at with Jesus. You can be an admirer, a fan, an enthusiastic follower or devoted lover. This is Jesus’s assertion in Luke 10:27 (ESV) 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” So as you “DTR” evaluate do you really love Jesus “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind?” You can play with this, but at the depth of your being we all know the real answer.
In the same way you know this answer, we know when the Holy Spirit is moving upon us. We know His presence because we are accomplishing things bigger than ourselves. We have a power, an ease, and an ability to see events from an external perspective. This should probably be explained in more detail, but for the article when the Holy Spirit is upon you, you know it. It is the Father’s gift to His children to accomplish His will.
Next are you, as Christ’s servant, committed to bringing “forth justice to the nations?” This is God’s ultimate purpose. Justice is that which is completely in accord with God’s plan, purpose and methodology. Justice is what is right. God defines all that is right. If I am committed to bring forth justice to the nations, I am purposefully engaged in bringing God’s will to the whole creation. I intentionally commit to a life that reveals and conforms to Jesus Christ. I intentionally commit to show and tell that to everyone. So ask yourself, what is my real purpose in life? Am I truly committed to bringing God’s way tot he world?
The objective of our life is critical but the means of accomplishing it is also essential. No one can accomplish God’s will except it be done in His way. God’s ways and means must agree with the accomplishment of His purpose. The way of God is counterintuitive to the American way. It is not efficient, not fast, and not single minded. It is, as Isaiah describes, selfless, gentle, kind, patient and consistent. It persists in the face of delay, opposition and frustration. God’s way knows it will be victorious the only uncertain issues are when and who.
So if we are servants of Christ, we love Him above all else. The Holy Spirit empowers us every day to accomplish God’s will, in His way, for the blessing of the whole world. Does this describe your life and your goals? I pray it does.