James 1:1
James begins his letter by referring to himself as “a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ”. A good thing to note is that every Christian whether in position of leadership or not is a servant. A servant lives in complete submission and remains obedient to His master in everything and at all times.
James like many other New Testament writers takes his place of being a servant and recognizes that His Master is God and Lord Jesus Christ. Rom 1:1, Tit1:1, Peter 2Pt1:1, and Jude 1:1.
The word servant can be translated to ‘bondservant’ referring not to a free individual but to a slave who serves or gives him/herself to another by Choice.
Jesus himself in teaching about servant hood in Jn 13:1-17 washed his disciples feet and clearly told them in v15 “I have set you an example that you should do what I have done for you” and in v17 that they will be blessed in doing what they now know. The application for this passage may not necessarily mean the actual feet washing but those small things that reflect humble service or humility that we do or show to others.
We are living in societies where our actions and our words determine the kind of impact we are going to make in our world and in the lives of people around us. Jesus lived a life that glorified God in all He did. As a servant He was motivated to touch the lives of people from all backgrounds and ethnicity. In Lk 22:24-27, He told the disciples that He is among them as one who serves; these He taught them to show that anyone who is considered great among them should be like the youngest and anyone who rules should do so as one who serves. “ whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave (servant), just as the son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” Mt 20:27-28
Likewise, God has called as in His kingdom to serve Him by serving others. Sometimes He calls us to do something that we are not comfortable doing and when we heed the call, we learn to be obedient and submissive to His will.
I am looking forward to this bible study. It is interesting to note the point of beginning for James. He starts at the servant level when a lot of people strive to start from the top; his position recognizes God and Lord Jesus as masters, hence declaring that he is ready to serve in obedience to the master. Could this message have been meant for a world in crisis of servants? I will keep on digging.
ReplyDeleteToday I won't say much but you have given me something to purposely meditate about. I am struggling with just that heeding God's call, and it has never been harder, I am for it one day, the next day its a struggle.
ReplyDeleteIt's good you brought up, the issue of the "bondservant" I needed to be reminded that I am one and need to be obedient and submissive to God's will at all times.
F.O