JULY 7

OUR PERSONAL PROMISES:

NAMES GIVEN TO JESUS IN THE BIBLE:

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MERCY SEAT IN THE SANCTUARY/  SHEKINAH GLORY

WATER THAT CAME FROM THE ROCK IN THE WILDERNESS

MANNA THAT FELL FROM THE SKY/BREAD OF LIFE—Ex 16; Jn 6:35

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This month we will read the book, “Whatever Happens – How to Stand Firm in Your Faith When the World is Falling Apart.”  By a contemporary author of many best-selling Christian books, Robert J. Morgan.  He took care of his wife when she had MS, until she went home to her Savior.  “He knows of which he speaks.”  I pray that this book blesses you.

Philippians 1:1(“Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:  also talks about being servants of Christ.”) also talks about being servants of Christ.  The Greek word “doulos” literally means “slave”.  Paul used this term 59 times in his writings, but it has a double connotation.

First, it connotes humility.  Vast portions of the Roman empire were made up of professionals – lawyers, financial experts, clothiers, chefs, administrators, educators, and so on – but they were employed by whoever owned them.  The apostle Paul attacked the institution of slavery in a powerful way in the book of Philemon, and  he encouraged slaves, if possible, to seek their freedom.  Yet he also said we are all slaves of Jesus Christ.

Further, Paul used this same term of Christ in chapter 2, telling us how Jesus took upon Himself the very nature of “doulos”  in Philippians 2:7:

“but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”

Our Lord was never owned by anyone, yet He became a servant, a slave, to all.

One of the most noted devotional writers of the last two hundred years was Andrew Murray of South Africa (the author of our previous book study.)  Many of his books are based on his sermons, but for two years he literally lost his voice.  He suffered from a  mysterious condition that rendered him speechless.  He had to take a sabbatical from the pulpit.  During this time, he studied the subject of humility and learned the lessons by experiencing them.  He later published a fabulous book on the subject of humility in which he said:

“There is nothing so divine and heavenly as being the servant and helper of all.  The faithful servant, who recognizes his position, finds a real pleasure in supplying the wants of the master or his guests.  When we see that humility is something infinitely deeper than contrition and accept it as our participation in the life of Jesus, we shall begin to learn that it is our true nobility, and that to prove it in being servants of all is the highest fulfillment of our destiny as people created in the image of God.”

That quote points out the paradox of being a slave.  Biblical commentators have discussed this a great deal. On the one hand, the word “servant” connotes our humble position, but at the same time, to be identified in Scripture as a “servant of the Lord” was an exalted honor. 

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SUPPLIED FROM CHRIST

In Christ, as a believer, you are supplied with abundant grace and are the heir of every single blessing God has ever invented.  “Grace” is a five-letter word made up of a billion blessings.  Because God is infinite, we have never-ceasing grace.

Because of God’s abundant blessings, we’re also flooded with peace.  We have peace WITH  God and the peace OF God.  The devil can neither rob us of our blessings nor permanently disrupt our peace, however much he tries.

I know this from experience, don’t you?  None of us have easy lives, and mine hasn’t always been easy.  There were times I was so desolate I didn’t think I could be reassembled.  But thus far I’ve never had an experience in which I didn’t find what I needed in the words of Scripture, the stanzas of hymns, and the closet of prayer.   Even recently when I was very low, as I sat at my desk with my open Bible, I almost physically felt the moment the Lord poured oil onto the fire and strength into my soul.  Can you relate?  I suspect you can.

And one thing I know – you can always rely on God’s revitalizing grace.  We are saints in Christ (if you’ve made the decision to trust Him completely) servants of Christ, and supplied by Christ with all we need.

Annie J. Flint, a disabled hymnist who knew about this from firsthand experience, wrote:

“His love has no limit, His grace has no measure, His power no boundary known unto men, For out of His infinite riches in Jesus He giveth and giveth and giveth again.”

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