John 15:14-16
“You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does
not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all
things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not
choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit,
and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father
in My name He may give to you.”
Hiding His truths in my heart helps me to keep this
forefront in my heart and mind, realizing that my Lord and my Master is not
harsh, but fully wise, just, and sovereign in all things. He has a plan, and I
have a part in that plan. He knows what He is doing and He will direct my
steps. In response to this my only reasonable spiritual response is to bring testimony
to this truth through presenting myself to Him fully for His service as we read
in Romans 12:1-2. “Therefore I urge
you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy
sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of
worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing
of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good
and acceptable and perfect.”
It should not be
much of a leap to reach this conclusion, especially when we consider just what
Christ did for us when we were lost in our trespasses and sins and we were
totally incapable of doing anything to fix our condition. Recognizing that
having been saved by Christ that He now lives in us, and His Spirit permanently
indwells and empowers us. No longer are sacrifices required in a temple, but
the once-for-all sacrifice has been offered up in Christ and we are now the
vessels through whom He resides and works. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Or do you not
know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have
from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore
glorify God in your body.”
While we may not fully grasp the role of a slave, we all in
some recognize the authority of human bosses, parents, or leaders, whether they
be good ones or not so good. We know that our approval from the world’s side is
often dependent on our attitude and our behavior. The big difference with God toward His
children (believers) is that our approval is based not on our attitudes and
actions, but on the work of His Son—Jesus Christ on the cross and even now as
our Advocate. But this does not excuse us to do whatever we please, even in
response to our earthly “masters.”
Ephesians
6:5-8 Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh,
with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of
eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God
from the heart. With good
will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that
whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord,
whether slave or free. (See also Colossians 3:22-24)
It is so easy to get lost in the demands that face us and
equally easy to grow bitter towards those who place them on us (including ourselves).
But Scripture tells us that we need to step back from those internal or
external demands and remember Who it is that we truly serve, and then to
reframe all that we do in light of our service to Him. God will direct us in
the paths that He intends. Our role is to humbly submit ourselves to His direction
and to honor Him before all men. This
necessitates that we spend time before Him and that we trust and acknowledge
Him in all that we do.
Today in “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young (7/22)
Find freedom through seeking to please Me above all else.
You can have only one Master. When you let others’ expectations drive you, you
scatter your energy to the winds. Your own desire to look good can also drain
your energy. I am your Master, and I do not drive you to be what you are not.
Your pretense displeases Me, especially when it is in My “service.” Concentrate
on staying close to Me at all times. It is impossible to be inauthentic while
you’re focusing on My Presence.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the
Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all
goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.
Ephesians 5:8-10
“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one
Master and you are all brothers.” Matthew 23:8
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