Called to be a servant of God

Being a servant is counter-cultural, counter-intuitive.  Putting the concerns of another ahead of your desires, interests and priorities appears foolish.  Yet, it is exactly the call to every Christian.  What does it mean to be a servant of God?

Moses offers us a window into servanthood that challenges all of us.  The original do-it-yourself man, Moses saw injustice and took matters into his own hands…killing the offender.  Outside of God’s timing and God’s will, Moses had to flee to the desert.  Still on his own agenda, he immediately rushed in to help those in need, rescuing the damsel who would later become his wife.  After forty years of maturing, God revealed Himself—and HIS plan. The miracle of a bush on fire but not consumed by flames caught his eyes.  Then he heard, “Take off your shoes, this is holy ground.” Tempered by time, Moses humbly obeyed.

Many, many ‘servants of God’ begin as Moses…desiring to do-good but in their own power and time.  The patience and perseverance of the Father knows no bounds; He works with raw material any other would discard.  God orchestrates our lives to guide us into submission that produces fruit!

Humbled, Moses listened to God speak, “I see the suffering of my people and want you to go help them.”  But he remembered his earlier disastrous attempt and did his best to wiggle out of the assignment.  “Who will I say you are?”  “What if they won’t listen?”  God answered each point and then laid out the plan of servanthood that stands today:  Use what you have; let me heal you; be willing to destroy what they trust in.

Use what you have.

God created each of us for unique purposes at the exact time in history that we live.  He makes no mistakes.  The design He made us is the one He intends for us to use; that is what is in our hands.  When we surrender ourselves to His power, life flows.  Sometimes it may feel frightening, but we will be victorious.

Let me heal you.

God told Moses, “Put your hand in your cloak.”  In obedience, Moses placed his hand near his heart and pulled it out to find himself covered in leprosy.  God instructed him to put his hand back in his cloak; then his skin glowed clean.  Every servant has areas of weakness.  When we submit the things that are close to our heart for the healing touch of the Lord, He miraculously heals us that we may be His servants.

Be willing to destroy what they trust in.

The purpose of God is ever and always to draw people unto Himself.  Sometimes that requires destroying what they love.  It will not make you popular; it may anger another.  Obey God that souls might be saved.

Those are hard servant instructions—and only an introductory course of servanthood.  The next forty years of Moses’ life unveiled more of the difficulties.  Of course, the advanced coursework, the PhD of Servanthood, brings us to Jesus Christ—the Creator who chose to serve the created.

The servant of God uses all He is for the glory of God alone—willing to face fear, ridicule and even anger to obey the King of Kings.  How are you living as a servant?  What are you facing; how can we pray for you?