Head-dibs

The shortest and most simple answer to the question of how the Bible transforms the pejorative term “slave” into a term of dignity and privilege (“servant”) is found in one word: adoption. Slavery was a cultural norm across the centuries of the Bible’s inspiration, commonplace in its many forms, separating people by this social structure. Some entered slavery by conquest, others by unpaid debt or other reasons. The Old Testament explains clearly that slavery was never intended keep a person in that low position indefinitely, and this is where the transformation of the concept begins. Each person purchased for a price should be freed after seven years of service; however, if the slave does not want to leave out of love for his master, that slave is taken to the doorpost of the house where he is nailed through the ear to the house as a sign that he is now quite literally part of the house (Exodus 21:5-6)—not “in” the house but “of” it. A ring through the ear showed the world that he was...

The apostle Paul settles a controversy in the Corinthians church through the inspiration of the Spirit by pointing out the source of the conflict: the selfish ambition of those in the fight. People were taking sides in the church saying that one teacher was better than another. Paul levels the field concerning the teachers emphasizing their unity by asking, “ What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one .” (1 Corinthians 3:5) 1 Corinthians 4 builds on this fact concerning the church leadership: “ Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. ” Here we find the first page of a photo album (if you will), a series of snapshots picturing the Servant of the Lord. The Servant of the Lord is (and some points are worth deeper exploration): Servant of Christ (1 Cor 4:1) Steward of the mysteries of God (4:1)   Trustworthy/faithful (4:2) Examined/assessed...

THE FIRST HALF Why we call this “St. Francis’ Prayer” or “The Prayer of St. Francis” is not clear to me as the good saint was not the author. Perhaps the prayer came to be known as such due to the Franciscan-sounding principles. Regardless, this is a fine prayer (if a prayer could be called “fine”). “Lord, make me an instrument” This is actually the first of two petitions, the second begin later in the prayer: “O Divine Master, grant that I . . .” Such weighty words like Hamlet’s question that make us pause as we consider who we are and who we are not. He is the Lord, our Creator and Sovereign. He is the Divine Master, as we will see later in the prayer. The Lord is Master and I am not. As  we are born into this fallen state, we are not much use even to ourselves. The prayer begins by returning to the Creator that He make take what He has fashioned in our mother’s wombs and go a step further: make me more than I am. Make me fit for the Master’s use. “Instrument” h...

When I was perhaps six or seven years old we made a vacation stop at Carlsbad Caverns in Carlsbad, New Mexico. I did not appreciate the adventure as much as I could have being so young. Perhaps I was travel weary. Perhaps I was scared to death. Maybe both. One feature along the path was dark hole opening up in the floor just a few feet beyond the rail. Not much separated small children from the void and there was no help to confidence in the placard that read, “The Bottomless Pit.” Walls and columns of stalagmites were lit up with blue and pink and white lights, but this hole was the epitome of all things black. I distinctly remember a rope ladder with wooden rungs anchored at the top of the hole spilling down into the abyss and it may be a trick of memory, but I recall the ladder seemed to be broken just about the place where the light ended and the yawning chasm began. There may have been some dusty scientific equipment staged to feed the imagination. As if I was not terri...

“ Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work .” (2 Timothy 2:20-21) Paul in writing to Timothy uses an illustration that deserves closer inspection. In a great house there are vessels, or instruments of service (utensils) of gold, silver, wood and clay. Some for honorable use, and some for dishonorable—but which is which? Perhaps we take it for granted that the gold and silver utensils are for honorable use and the wood and clay are for dishonorable. Paul does not say. Clay is used to make fine China, ash-trays and toilet bowls; that is, clay can be used in an honorable or dishonorable fashion. Wood can be used to cook our meal, or deliver food to our mouths in the form of chop-sticks, or bowls (I bought...

A common phenomenon in nature is “the path of least resistance.” Electricity moving through a circuit will always travel where it is easiest to go. Cars are developed aerodynamically so there will be a minimal wind resistance. Water always travels under a bridge because it is far easier to go under the bridge than over it. Frequently this is what people are like also. It is easier to sit in front of the TV rather than to care for our neighbor’s needs. It is easier to get angry at your mate and let that anger diminish over the course of time rather than sitting down and working the problem through. Thumbing through a Reader’s Digest is much easier than a time of personal Bible study. And so we find that we too, just like water under the bridge are prone to take the “path of least resistance.” But there is one difference between ourselves and water. Water will never have to give an account of what it has done. Ought not we examine ourselves and get on the “path of greatest persistance?’

" [God is not] served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything ." Acts 17:25 The difference between Uncle Sam and Jesus Christ is that Uncle Sam won't enlist you in his service unless you are healthy and Jesus won't enlist you unless you are sick. What is God looking for in the world? Assistants? No. The gospel is not a help-wanted ad. It is a help-available ad. God is not looking for people to work for Him but people who let Him work mightly in and through them. ************ Piper, John. "Brothers, Tell Them Not To Serve God." Brothers, We are Not Professionals . Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2002.

“Lord, help me to glorify thee; I am poor, help me to glorify thee by contentment; I am sick, help me to give thee honour by patience; I have talents, help me to extol thee by spending them for thee; I have time, Lord, help me to redeem it, that I may serve thee; I have a heart to feel, Lord, let that heart feel no love but thine, and glow with no flame but affection for thee; I have a head to think, Lord, help me to think of thee and for thee; Thou hast put me in this world for something, Lord, show me what that is, and help me to work out my life-purpose: I cannot do much, but as the widow put in her two mites, which were all her living, so, Lord, I cast my time and eternity too into thy treasury; I am all thine; take me, and enable me to glorify thee now, in all that I say, in all that I do, and with all that I have.” (Spurgeon, Morning and Evening Feb. 15)