Serve as Slave

One of the most important characters of  a servant of the Lord is 'serving as slave'. Often, I wonder if serving the Lord is so honorable and respectful; yes it does, to God. In fact, it is a privilege to be able to serve the true and living God. But the danger on the flip side is, as seen among many religious leaders, they are serving the Lord as "masters". This for sure, I loathe to the uttermost. May I not be found as such. 

Acts 20:19 "Serving the Lord as a slave with all humility and tears and trials..."

A slave does not exercise his right, does not express his opinion nor does he have his will or his way. He is just a slave; obeying the command of his master without even expecting an iota of appraisal or reward. He just serves, in sickness or in health, day or night, any time duty demands, he serves. That is to serve as a slave.

Going by this generic understanding of a slave, Am I such a one? Only God knows. May the Lord have mercy on me that I may be found as I should be; serving as slave.

I have been tested again and again of my attitude in serving the Lord. I am not ashamed to confess that often I do serve as "masters", but the Lord spoke to me very clearly two days ago that I must serve Him as a slave. To be tested, He allowed some situations in which I must practically serve as slaves.

I had to officially carry out my official duty and had the full right to decide on a matter and do it officially as I deemed it right. But the Lord reminded me that I should serve as a slave, and the way I discharged my duty was with the exercise of my spirit in prayer, and humbled myself to take the lower ground and did the work. It was indeed such a joy to learn this lesson of life!

Two days ago a brother invited me for a love-feast with new ones without proper information of the timing, and of course, I had to drive too. As I did so I took a route which I knew for sure was better, but on his suggestion I changed the route, accepting what he said and what my spirit "amened". But the route was experienced to be very bad for driving and time consuming. However, I exercised not to express any vindication of my original plan, but he himself apologised for his suggestion. 

Later, I had to wait for more than an hour for the actual love-feast to start. I opined to myself if I was informed of the proper time I could have better utilized this one hour prior to the feast. But the Lord reminded me that I am just a slave, and as such, "what right do I have?" I better repent for not having a proper attitude of a slave. It eventually turned out  that I used that time for prayer; praying specifically for some new ones and contact them by phone and texting. It was a sweet hour of prayer and shepherding indeed. Of course, the love-feat was very rich and the time spent with the new ones was great!   

Yesterday, as we prayed and fellowship on the distribution of the ministry books I proposed that we pray-read this verse, "Serving the Lord as slave with all humility and tears and trials...,"  it was such a timely speaking of the Lord. All serving ones were so much supplied by this simple verse. In fact, we were adjusted in the way we serve our God, especially our attitude in dealing with the believers and our clients. What a timely speaking of the Lord it was, and it still is!

Lord, grant me the grace to serve You as slave, with all humility and tears and trial. May I be found as "a faithful and prudent slave."