Are you a bondservant of Jesus?

I'm writing this blog to convey Biblical truth that will challenge my team of worship leaders, interns, musicians and sound techs as I am challenged by God's Word. If you don't fall into this category of people, but are encouraged by the blog, then great! Thanks for taking this journey with me. For this season I will blog my way through the book of Romans. May God lead my eyes to fall and settle on the words and concepts that will most appropriately lead and challenge my team for this season of life, in Jesus' name, Amen. Here we go-


Paul is writing this letter to the church in Rome, from the city of Corinth about 25 years after he saw Jesus on the road to Damascus. He was on his way to Jerusalem, with the intent to eventually go to Rome, which ultimately he did. The "in your face" biblical challenge starts out in verse one, chapter one. "Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God..." I'm stunned by this self description and I think it's worth considering. So let's do this in 3 parts, the first being the term, bondservant.


The best and most concise definition I can find for the word bondservant is this: devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests. The origin of the word comes from early accounts in the Bible in both Genesis and Leviticus. (Genesis ch. 9 and 29. Leviticus ch. 25) On some accounts the term is used to describe a person who owes a debt they can not repay. In another account, the bondservant is free, yet freely chooses to serve his master. He forfeits his rights as a free man and submits to his master's authority. In either case it's an interesting way for the apostle Paul to describe himself in this the first sentence of his letter. 


Unlike letters we write today, authors would begin by identifying themselves. Interestingly Paul opts to focus on his calling, apostleship and servanthood to Jesus to describe the very depth and essence of who he is. He did not say Paul, formerly Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee, a descendant of the tribe of Benjamin, a citizen of Rome, raised in Jerusalem "at the feet of Gamaliel" - all of which titles would be accurate, impressive and would carry much weight in the eyes of his readers. But he first called himself a bondservant of Jesus Christ: as if to say, "ABOVE ALL ELSE, greater than any other credentials or identifications, I am a chosen slave to the will of my master, Jesus Christ to whom I am in debt that I can not repay." 


So what about you and me? In writing a letter would we ultimately describe ourselves in such a way? Is the fundamental basis of our identity encompassed as a bondservant of Jesus Christ? Or better yet, are we even challenged that it ought to be? 


In 1 Corinthians 11:1(NLT) Paul writes, "And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ." If we are to take the Bible's instructions as the absolute Word of God; the inspired instructions that are without flaw- see 2 Timothy 3:16-17,2 Peter 1:20-21, 1 Corinthians 2:13 - then let's conclude this thought by following the chain of logic:


1. The Bible is true, and It's instruction to us is perfect, and applicable.


2. Paul, under the inspiration of God, tells us to imitate him as he imitates Christ.


3. Paul considers his identity to be found in his relentless commitment to the will of God.


4. We too ought to consider ourselves as bondservants, in debt to a loving master, subject to His will. And this ought to identify us as deeply as our name, our fingerprints or our DNA. If it does not, then let's make it so. 


A simple prayer to kickstart this mindset:
Father, may my identity be found in You. Help me to relinquish my will to yours. I choose today to be a bondservant to Your will. May this fact dictate me decisions and demeanor today. Amen.


Next time we'll delve into the second of three descriptions Paul uses for himself, "called to be an apostle..." 


much love -g