TWC – The Word Connects: Connecting you to God and to one another …
Sunday 28 December 2014
The Book of Jude begins with, “Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ” and some translations have it as “Jude, a slave of Christ”. The Greek is doulos which means slave. I remember the phrase “servant of God” frequently used amongst fellow believers in the 80s and 90s but there are few if any reference to this biblical phrase today. What seems to be big today is “friend of God”. If this becomes our primary focus, we may run into a few problems. First, by referring to the Lord primarily as Friend, or only as Friend, we have “decided” based on our own whims and fancies and poor reading of Scriptures, that Jesus is merely someone who is committed to helping us because He cares for us as a Friend. We think of Him only as a God of blessings and favour. So if things don’t go my way, I throw Him out of the window. Second, we will start to see Him as existing to serve us and not the other way around. When this happens, we have become lords and Jesus our servant! Third, we forget who is leading the church? Is it you and me or is it Jesus, the King of kings? When we forget something as important as this, we end up running the church our way and eventually killing the church. Looking at it a little further, actually Jude referred to himself more as a slave of Jesus Christ then as a servant. Now, that is certainly not a description the majority of Christians today will use to refer to who we are. Have you met anyone who said, “I am a slave of God?” Well, Jude did, the Apostle Paul did and many New Testament Christians did. So what happened? Who robbed us of this truth? How is it that Christians today are so misled? As you walk with God today, think of yourself not only as a friend of God but also as a servant of the Lord or slave of the Lord. Be committed to serving Him and His agenda both as a friend and a slave of God. Remember, we pray “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done” NOT “my kingdom come, my will be done”. Have a God-filled day!
Today’s Bible text: “1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James,
To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ: 2 Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.” (Jude 1:1-2)
Pastor Barnabas Chong
Aldersgate Methodist Church
revbarnz@gmail.com
Today’s recommended video: Lord I Offer My Life To You … Click here for direct YouTube link
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