“Free to be me!” That’s how many people want to be able to live. We live in a day and age of free expression, free thinking, free living, being free spirited, etc. “I just want to be me!” “I just want to be accepted as me!” Is this where we are in our focus on life? Don’t we have an appreciation for people who will accept us not for some title we might wear, but simply for what/who we are? For this to be true is fine, if we are what we ought to be! It’s okay to just be ourselves, so long as the being we are is what/who God intended for us to be!
In Paul’s letter to the church at Galatia he wrote. . .
“(13) For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13 ESV)
The literal idea is to “slave” to one another. The world likes titles. Titles help to know who serves and who gets served. At least that’s the way of the world. (Matthew 20:25) However, the titles God has for His people are more descriptions of function than they are titles of honor. Whether we are referring to elders, deacons, preachers, teachers, or other roles we might consider within the church; that is what they are — roles, functions, acts of service — and a servant is what God intended for us to be. Understanding this we can go about each day being free to be ourselves in many God glorifying ways.
If we are going to wear a title, let it be “Christian”, but only if we are one indeed, and living to be identified with Christ. Hand in hand with that would then go the supreme distinction of “servant.”
Supreme? Yes, supreme! Such was noted by Jesus Himself where we read. . .
“(11) The greatest among you shall be your servant.” (Matthew 23:11 ESV)
Greatness is found in learning to be a servant. In fact, it is one of the ways in which we are to be identified with Christ. (Matthew 20:28) Being a servant is one of the greatest functions our life can fulfill as we recognize we all have a very practical role to play. May the servant heart be well established within us so that we can truly be free to be ourselves to the benefit of others and the glory of God!
Have a great day FULFILLING GOD’S GRAND ROLE FOR OUR LIFE!
Carl
