Slave of Christ

Epaphras, who is one of you, a slave of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. Colossians 4:12

The apostles, especially Paul, had addressed himself as a slave of Christ Jesus in his epistles. Likewise, James, Peter, Jude, John, and others have used the same title. This title sounds good in the ear but in reality, when one is to be treated as a slave, without the Spirit of reality operating in the believers, it will not be possible to live out a life of a slave. Today, many spiritual Christian leaders love to address themselves as "slaves" with the intention of being humble and spiritual, but this has been taken to another extreme and has a reverse effect. By using this title "slave", they are actually boasting about their humility which in turn became a spiritual pride, of being humble. This is far more serious than the sin of plain pride. Spiritual pride is the most sinful pride of all. Because it is mere hypocrisy.

A slave is one who lost his rights even of his own life. He is fully owned by his master; his own life, his family, and all that he possesses belong to his master. A servant is mostly hired and serves for salary. He can release himself from his service anytime he wishes to, only that he would no longer be paid for his service. Whereas, a slave is bound to his master life-long.

Again I reiterate, I am not a slave by nature, but I am gradually learning to be one. In the locality I serve, the saints, especially the new ones are helping me to learn this lesson. They come to me for all the help they need which they know that I could render them a helping hand. I am glad that at least they approached me for help. Within my capacity, with the heart of a slave, I rendered them whatever help I could from my part. 

A brother, a new one, had written his first book to be published on his profession titled, "Memory Mastery" for which I rendered my help in proofreading and finalizing all the content of the book. It was time-consuming and was skill-based, and despite my busy schedule, I determined to help him, and the work was completed according to his schedule. Through this help, he becomes more open to prayer together and even requested me to visit him at his place. My burden for him is to recover him fully for the church life and raise up the Lord's testimony in his city, Jhajjar.

A new one, an old retired officer, had received my help for releasing his first book, and now the second book is to be released. The content of the book is historical in nature; of Indian history with her freedom fighters. By this way of helping him, he has become open to me. I have been praying for him and his family and his friends that one day I would be able to preach the gospel and bring them to salvation. So far, cherishing work has been going on. In this way too, I am learning to serve as a slave.

Two weeks ago, a seeking one came to visit the literature office. On fellowshipping with him, I felt the leading from the Lord to invite him to stay back so that he could join the church meeting and also we could have more fellowship. The Lord's leading within me was to serve him as a slave. He was my guest, and I must serve him with the best hospitality I could render. This too was a lesson of serving as a slave. In this way, I have been learning to serve as a slave of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord has been gracing me to learn the lesson of being a slave of the Lord Jesus Christ. I, by nature, am not a slave at all. And I would not pretend to be one. Yet, the Lord in His mercy has been gracing me to learn to serve as a slave. May the Lord grace me on and on to be His slave in serving His chosen people for His people. 

My prayer has been to be like that of Epaphras, a slave of Christ Jesus, always struggling on the new ones' behalf in my prayers that they may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.