The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Servant... Lord"
In one of the most hallowed portions of the Bible, we discover the Lord Jesus Christ in a sublime dual expression of His role in God's purposes.
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:5-11).
Note the passage begins with Christ as servant, and ends with Christ as Lord. He is both, that is, the Lord who serves, and the servant who rules. This includes His presence and working in our lives.
"Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am" (John 13:13)
"The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and give His life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28).
"Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying Abba Father" (Galatians 4:6).
We serve the Lord Jesus as our master, and He dwells within us to empower our service. "His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue" (II Peter 1:3). God calls us to "life and godliness," that is to submission to His glory and will. He does so, however, by "the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:19). The Lord who commands our obedience empowers our obedience. He does not call us to make bricks without straw, as it were, but indwells us to make possible a life of devotion to Him not possible without Him.
The Lord who serves. The Servant who rules. The Lord Jesus occupies both offices in God's purpose, and in our hearts. "Without Me, ye can do nothing" declared the Savior who well knows we cannot independently fulfill even the least of His commands according to the divine standard (John 15:5). Thus, He supplies Himself as the Life of our lives whereby we join the Apostle Paul in his confident confession, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).
This blessed truth of our Lord's dual office constitutes obedience to God not as a burden, but as a delight. Of course, this does not preclude challenge because "the flesh lusteth against the spirit" (Galatians 5:17). We do not always feel pleasure in the will of God, and we do not always obey (I John 1:8). However, the more we grow in the knowledge of the Lord who serves and the Servant who rules, the more we find ourselves motivated and empowered to fulfill the will of God as the fruit of both Christ's direction and enabling. We can "do nothing" without Him, but "all things" through Him. A sublime role indeed, and one in which must grow in our understanding of both offices our Savior occupies in service to God, and in both Lordship and service to us.
"Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."
(Matthew 11:28-30)
"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus."
(II Timothy 1:1)
Weekly Memory Verse
"Fight the good fight of faith."
(I Timothy 6:12)
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