4th March, 2022.

HIGHER DIMENSION OF LOVE AND SERVANTHOOD

Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God NIV

Paul called himself a servant of Christ. The Greek word "Doulos" was translated as "Servant" in the opening text though it is an imperfect translation. Merely reading that text, one may not get the full import of the servanthood Paul meant. If we are to interpret "Doulos" properly, it should be rendered as "Bondservant". Now, there's a world of difference between 'Servants' and 'bondservants'. The Jews know the difference and Paul does as well. In Exodus 21:1-7, God told the Israelites that if they buy a Hebrew slave, the slave should not serve more than six years. On the seventh year he/she must be freed. However, if the slave refuses to go because he love his master, he must must be presented before God and his ear must be pierced with an awl at the doorpost. After that, such a slave becomes a bondservant. That is, he will serve his master till death, no freedom. He beomes a property of his master including his wife, children and all he owns.

It was from this background of understanding that Paul called himself a servant, that is, a bondservant. Rarely will you find that expression in other non Pauline epistles except in 2Pet1:1. Only Paul and Peter called themselves "Bondservants". They are saying, "we love the Lord, we don't want to be free from his yoke. We become his property with all we have till death". We often read the old testament at the surface not trying to find out what the real meaning of what we read is in the new testament. The physical bondservanthood in the old testament was just a type and shadow of the spiritual bondservanthood God expects of His children under the new covenant. It is a life of being sold out totally to GOD. However, I discovered that the drive to submit for bondservanthood is " LOVE". Only servants who love their master stay as bondservants.

The test of your love for God will reflect in your submission to serve and let go those personal cravings, ambitions and desires that doesn't align with His perfect will for your life. The fact that you dictate for God at all times and insist on what you want without considering His will is a proof that you're not His bondservant. Bondservants don't negotiate instructions with their master. We often claim to love God especially in our songs. Some even shed tears in worship when singing "love songs" to God but when God makes a demand for their money, time, skill and intellect, they give excuses or give them out grudgingly or partially. While it appears some let go certain things for the Lord willingly, it could just be because of the expectation for extrinsic reward not necessarily because of love. Bondservants don't serve for perks and benefits. They own nothing, their master owns everything. I am not preaching or teaching as a man that is there, I'm on the journey with you. God is calling us to a genuine love walk that submits for bondservanthood on the love lane.