‘Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus…’ Romans 1:1 NAS
When Paul called himself ‘a bond-servant’ of Christ he was referring to an Old Testament law under which you served your master faithfully for six years. However, in the seventh year the law said that you had to be set free. But if you turned back when you were released and said, ‘Master, I’m not serving you because I have to but because I want to,’ then your master took you before a judge and pierced your ear, signifying that you belonged to him forever; that you were committed to listening to him and obeying him. (Exodus 21:6) Today pray, ‘Lord, I’m not serving You because I have to but because I want to. Pierce my ear, mark me as Yours, bond me together with You so that I can never belong to another.’
When ministry loses its passion it becomes an empty profession. The very word ‘minister’ is a verb, not just a noun. It’s what you do, not what you claim to be. The word ‘servant’ also referred to a third-level galley slave chained to an oar on a Roman ship. Day and night you rowed to the drumbeat of the ship’s master, whether you were in battle or in merchant service. And you expected to die chained to that oar. What a picture! It’s what Paul had in mind when he wrote: ‘I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.’ (Romans 12:1 NKJV) When you think of what Christ has done for you, is it too much to ask?
SoulFood: 1 Chron 16-18, John 9:13-23, Ps 105:1-15, Pr 25:23-25
The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright 2011
