 | JOY on What is a Bondservant? |
 | Elizabeth on A Bondservant? |
 | Anthony Verderame on A Bondservant? |
 | Sara S. on What is a Bondservant? |
 | Cynthia Patton on A Bondservant? |
Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
Matthew 1:2 KJV
Today I came across three more characters in the royal line to Jesus. Isaac, named after his parent’s laughter, Jacob, the heel catcher and Judah, the son upon whom would be much praise.
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Matthew 1:1 KJV
A couple of weeks ago I received a phone call from my sister. In a calm voice she told me that my mother was in the hospital. Phrases like “congestive heart failure” and “fluid around the lungs and heart” popped up and my anxiety grew. Little did I know that these were just guesses.
My relationship with my mother, really most of my side of the family, has been weak if anything and I have regretted that more and more the older that I get. Past interactions had lead to this situation where I had to come to grips that I didn’t really know much about my side of the family. So while in the hospital I asked my Mother about our history and have begun the task of devising a genealogy.
Meanwhile, I have desired to change my Bible study technique and decided to start with the Gospel of Matthew. What should I find there, but the genealogy of Jesus Christ, ben David, ben Abraham.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
John 1:1-4 KJV
Beginnings are important. They give us insight into who we are, what we believe, how we were raised. How a person begins a task often determines how they will complete it – if they complete it at all.
O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.
2 Chronicles 20:12-13 KJV
How many times have I come to a crossroad and find myself asking, “Now what?” Too many times to number.
The problem with this is that I asked myself this question. I am in the situation and yet I question myself as if I could gain some instantaneous over arching understanding and come up with a solution. If I proceed with my choice, I oftentimes find myself in a bigger hole without a rope.
However, if I were to ask someone who did have more knowledge and insight than myself, then a better resolution could be found and followed. Who better to ask than the Creator of all things, the LORD of all?
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:1-7 KJV
I spent this morning reviewing my reading of the beginning of Romans. I was struck by Paul’s use of the work ‘called’. He first references himself and then uses the word to identify the readers of the letter as being called.
The underlying Greek word is the same in all three cases: kletos. It means invited or appointed. Paul indicates his calling was to be an apostle or ambassador. He then indicates that the reader – the Romans and ourselves – are called of Jesus. We are called to Jesus through the receiving of His “grace ands apostleship” through obedience or rather submission to His will.
He has appointed us to be saints. The word used for ’saints’ also means ‘holy one’ or sacred. We are invited to be set apart for His will.
I find in these verses a distinctive calling to be His. Set aside. His ambassador. We are invited to this task – chosen for His purpose. What an amazing opportunity to be used by Him.
When I first began thinking about creating this website, I began praying for guidance. For the last month a single topic has been permeating my heart: being a servant – in particular, a bondservant. From this topic, the vision for this entire site came forth. And so, this first article is about this topic: on being a Bondservant.
I always like to start with the basics and the most basic I can get to is the individual word. Bondservant is a compound word, so let’s break it up…
Read the rest of this entry »
Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
(Psalm 119:35-36 KJV)
We often feel driven to go with the crowd. It is easier for us – for there is no confrontation present when you are acting within the context and agreement of a group. However, to move against the grain causes discomfort and often aggression.
This morning my daily reading took me through Deuteronomy chapter 4. I stumbled accross this jem of remembrance:
But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
Deuteronomy 4:29 KJV (formatting by me)
If only we would seek after Him every moment of every day. I know that I often find myself goring throughout my daily tasks only to find out that I had shut Him out.
Guilty as charged. No matter how much I would desire to be in the presence of my Lord, I so often seek to satisfy my own desires without inquiring what He would have of me.
Today I pray for the strength and discipline to earnestly seek after my Lord in all I do. Regardless of the brevity or simpicity – the complexity or longevity, I desire to seek after Him.
I pray that we all would.
There is a saying that I’ve heard often as I have grown up, “Use it or you’ll lose it…” This was almost always in the context of some developed skill or discipline. Time has shown me the truth of this phrase.
It always amazes me at how much I forget. There were things which I merely remember the name, but cannot for the life me remember the remaining content. Binomial theorem, Avagado’s number, etc.
Unfortunately, I also forget what the Lord has spoken to me through His Word. I often forget where a certain verse or section is in the Bible. This is all to my detriment.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:5-11, KJV
I find that it is so very difficult to even comprehend how to change my mind. Every time I attempt to correct my thoughts myself, I get a reminder of the corruption which is within me.
