Servants for Life

Of the three primary names for God (two of which we have looked at over the past weeks), Adonia is probably the hardest to hold fast too. We trust Christ to save us for all eternity but not to control the details of our everyday life. In thinking about my relationship with my Great Master, I needed to grasp the master-servant relationship. In the Old Testament a Hebrew servant was required to serve his master for six years (Exodus 21:2-6). However, his master was to set him free in the seventh year without requiring any payment for freedom. But then, if the servant loved his master and did not want to go free, he could choose to continue serving his master. To seal the relationship, the master brought his servant before judges, took him to a doorpost, and pierced his ear with an awl, signifying lifelong ownership. The slave who loved his master was now his servant for life.

Stop and think about that picture for a moment. I would be willing to bet your mind is drifting toward Christ Jesus.

If you and I want to understand what it means to serve Adonai, we must look at the example of Jesus and how He lived His life on earth. Jesus "made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross" (Phil 2:7-8). Jesus served His Father and delighted to do His will. Because of Jesus' obedience to God, "he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." (Is.53:5).

You and I are meant to be God's servant. As Jesus told His Father, "I have come to do your will, O God." (Hebrews 10:7). Adonai is looking for those servants who will say "Here I am."

What if this was the seventh year for you serving your Master. Do you love Adonai so much that you would ask him to pierce your ear to signify that you are His forever?