1277. Servants–Bondmen

Servants–Bondmen

"The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord" (Mat_10:24).

The word which we are studying now may not be quite so pleasing as the word "disciple." It is a word however, of frequent use in the Bible. The Apostle Paul always signed himself, "Paul the bondslave of Jesus Christ." The fact that the word is translated "servant," has deceived some. The word, in the Greek, is "pulos," and it means far more than a servant employed by a stated salary. The word carries with it the thought of a slave, bound by the law to his master.

Jesus Christ expressed Himself as being the bond-servant of the Father. How striking are the words, "Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith, * * Lo, I come, * * to do Thy will, O God." The Lord Jesus also said, "Mine ears hast Thou bored." In the Old; Testament the children of Israel, at the year of jubilee turned all their bondslaves free with the exception of those who desired of their own will to remain in bondage. These had their ears bored. In this act, they gave themselves forever into bondage. Thus, our Lord Jesus Himself in coming to the earth said, "I am the bondslave of the Father," "Mine ears hast thou bored."

There may be some who would hesitate to have their ears bored. There may be some who would hesitate to put their head into the yoke of Jesus Christ, yet this is what saints should do.

If our Lord said, "I do always the things that please Him," need we fear to say as much? Missionaries, and ministers, Sunday School teachers, and church officers, in fact all believers, are called into the service of the Lord Jesus Christ. Who then will say:

"I'll go where You want me to go, dear Lord,

Over mountain, or plain or sea;

I'll say what You want me to say, dear Lord,

I'll be what You want me to be"?

Illustration: When Dewey sailed for Manila Bay, he left America under sealed orders. He was told to carry his fleet one hundred miles to sea, and then to break the envelope and read his commands. He obeyed strictly. When he finally broke the seal, he read the words: "Go to Manila and sink the Spanish Armada." He went. He did what he was told to do, and then he wired Washington: "The Spanish fleet is in the bottom of Manila Bay."

We, too, should be willing to sail under sealed orders. We should gladly sign our name, "Your obedient bondslave" to a sheet of blank paper, and then turn the paper over to the Master to fill out. We should not seek first, to know His will, and then agree to do it. We should stand ready to receive any summons, and to obey any command.

There is a no more beautiful sight than to see a vast army of men marching under the command of their general. They step together and halt together. They are bound by law unto their master. If the general sounds a call to march they march; if the call should mean the valley of death, into the valley of death they go.

Let us all be "servants."

"Their's not to reason why,

Their's but to do or die."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR