Roy Hession wrote about this chapter in The Calvary Road. He gave five marks of a bondservant. I'm sharing them here.
Five Marks of a Bond Servant
by Roy Hession from The Calvary Road
1. Must be willing to have one thing on top of another put upon him, without any consideration given him.
2. In doing so he must be willing not to be thanked for it.
3. Having done this, he must not charge the others with selfishness.
4. Must not congratulate himself for having done the first three, but realize that it is only the Lord in him that enables him.
5. Realize that in doing and bearing all this in meekness and humility, he has not done one stitch more than was his duty to do.
This is the Way of the Cross.
Read the whole chapter from The Calvary Road online.
Bless you for this reminder -- it came right when needed most :)
ReplyDeleteOh sweet girl, how I needed to read this today. Humility & grateful service had been in short supply in my heart lately.
ReplyDeleteOh my, # 4 is my wake up call. Since I was 16 I have been a caregiver in one form or another. I am now 56. In recent years, it was taking care of my parents. My mother passed in 2002, and my father in 2013. These years were not easy, but I thought I was deserving of thanks from someone.. anyone.Just when I think I know what is right..enter God's plan! In 2012, our grandson came to live with us. He is now 15, and a constant blessing in our life. To sum it up, now 40 years have passed..I am still caring for someone, I have no accolades or awards, yet I am happy. What I have done and am doing may seem trivial to the world, but I KNOW that God sees much more. To that end, I am truly greatful to have been able to do my part.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your testimony of God's blessing on unthanked but faithful service.
DeleteGina
That's a tough pill to swallow!! As a mom of many we have ample opportunities to practice humble servanthood. Thank you posting this, it's really giving me some things to think about.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think we mothers are given lots of opportunities to serve without recognition or thanks. I think this needs to be tacked up next to my kitchen sink!
DeleteGina
Now this is challenging!! If we make this our standard, and lean on the Lord, He will help us through whatever it is. I think of Corrie ten-Boom in the death camp, people in horrible marriages, anyone in an otherwise soul-crushing situation. Strive to be an excellent bond servant and know that it cannot be done alone. The Lord must be first, and intimately involved. It also helps to have a Godly friend on earth (Virgin Mary and Elizabeth, David and Jon, Jesus and his 3 best friends) to confide in and seek encouragement.
ReplyDeleteCorrie ten Boom's life has been a challenge and encouragement to me for years. Thanks for reminding me of her example.
DeleteGina
Is the bond servant allowed to cry?:)
ReplyDeleteI hope so.
DeleteBut I think we need to be careful to have Jesus' response "Not my will but thine be done." I know that personally sometimes tears can be an adult temper tantrum.
Gina
I needed this in my life, Gina. Thanks for sharing it. It's beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI've been inwardly balking about serving... and the various temptations that go along with it tempt me...
I'm giving this all to Jesus and diving back in, in my heart, where Jesus is all the focus...
God is good!