A Quick Catchup

Sorry its been so long since the last update! Lets recap my time in Costa Rica! I spent 5 weeks in Jaco with my whole squad (43 of us). In Jaco we painted light poles, homeless ministry, concrete work, painted skatepark, and surf ministry. We then divided up with our team across Costa Rica. Both the guys teams joined together for the next ministry which is going to San Jose for night evangelism. Now if you dont call ministering to people addicted to crack at hours of 8pm-1am exciting, i’m not sure what crazy life you’re living! We spent two nights doing this and the first night we had cops signal throats being cut as we were walking down a street known for murder and an iconic crackhouse. We ignored the cops warning, because first of all, Jesus would not be afraid of going into the dark to spread some light, so why should I? Well the cops were not kidding with their warning, as we were walking down this hill, we saw at the bottom a man swinging a knife at a woman. the blade was inches from slashing her open. Everyone immediately prayed for protection and that God would intercede. Within seconds of our prayers, two cops on motorcycles come blazing over the hill and break up the fight, we see the man run off into the darkness and the cops did nothing more with the situation. Why would they? That’s normal right? the sad reality is yes, in this neighborhood that is daily life! After our two days in San Jose, we headed down to Limon. I am currently working at a rehab facility near Limon. I will be there till Friday, then I head to Porto Viejo for two weeks. 

Something that has been on my mind recently is to be a bondservant of Christ:

 

Doulos is a Greek word meaning bondservant. Many do not understand the role of a bondservant in relation to Jesus. Americans instinctively cringe at the thought of servitude, slavery, or bondage. And no wonder since our country was founded on freedom, in the very act of  breaking away from servitude to the King of England. A dictionary definition of a bondservant is someone bound to labor without wages. A synonym of bondservant is slave.

 

The description of a Biblical bondservant is one who chooses to serve his Master till death. He will forever wear the mark of this Master. He accomplishes all the Master’s will for his life because of a love called “agape”. There are no loose ends, frustrations, or indecision. Eternity for the bond- servant is marked with glorious rewards at the Mercy seat of the Master (Exo.21:1-6).

 

“Now these are the judgments which you shall set before them: “If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years; and in the seventh he shall go out free and pay nothing. “If he comes in by himself, he shall go out by himself; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him.

 

“If his master has given him a wife, and she has borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out by himself. “But if the servant plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ “then his master shall bring him to the judges. He shall also bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever.” (Exodus 21:1-6)

 

The first judgments given to the children of Israel (after the 10 Commandments) were the instructions about servants. But there is something interesting mentioned in verse 5: “But if the servant plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free ” This is a big decision, a choice for life. The judges (v. 6) were present to witness the servant’s willingness to become a bondservant to the master, his willingness to give up his freedom to the master, to work for the master and to do his will. Why would anybody not want to be set free? Who wants to be under the bondage of a master? This is why. “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength (Deuteronomy 6:5). This is freedom in the Spirit of the Lord.

 

The Children of Israel were servants – ‘For the children of Israel are servants to Me; they are My servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 25:55)

 

Moses was a servant – God Himself says so. Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. (Numbers 12:7)

 

David was a servant – I am Your servant; Give me understanding, That I may know Your testimonies. (Psa. 119:125)

 

Make Your face shine upon Your servant, And teach me Your statutes. (Psalms 119:135)

 

Your word is very pure; Therefore Your servant loves it. (Psalms 119:140)

TRAITS OF A NEW TESTAMENT BONDSERVANT OF CHRIST                                          

 

1. Bondservant of Christ is emptied of self, and walks in deep humility before the Lord, faithfully obeying Him to the point of suffering hardship, humiliation, and even death if required. (Phil. 2:5-8; Luke 1:38)

 

2. A Bondservant of Christ has a deep and genuine concern for the welfare of others. (Phil. 2:20-21; Col. 4:14-13)

 

3. A Bondservant of Christ seeks to encourage, comfort and strengthen others. (Col. 4:7- 8)

 

4. A Bondservant of Christ strives to do the will of his Master, and please Him only, and has abandoned seeking after the praise of men. (Gal. 1:10; II Cor. 5:9)

 

5. A Bondservant of Christ does not promote or exalt self but promotes and exalts Christ as Lord of all, and views self as a bondslave of others to fulfill the call of Christ. (II Cor. 4:5)

 

6. A Bondservant of Christ is not quarrelsome, but kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, gently correcting those who are in opposition. (II Tim. 2:24-25)

 

7. A Bondservant of Christ sees his/her life of service as a grateful, dutiful, and loving response to God and not something for which he/she expects to be thanked by his/her Master, but rather rewarded for his/her faithfulness. (Luke 17:7-10; Rom. 12:1-2; Eph. 6:5-8)

 

NEW TESTAMENT BONDSERVANTS

 

Jesus was a Servant –  “To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.” (Acts 3:26). 

 

Jesus’ Disciples became servants –  Jesus said,  “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. “And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:43-45) 

 

Jesus came to serve.  “For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.” (Luke 22:27).

 

Jesus is our example. We are to do as He has shown us. Jesus took the form of a bond servant, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. (Philippians 2:7). 

We all serve someone, Who are you a servant to?

 

Jesus came to do the will of His father. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come – In the volume of the book it is written of Me – To do Your will, O God.’ (Psalm 40:7; Hebrews 10:7) We must allow God to have all authority in our lives. We do this because of our love for our Master. Jesus’ apostles became servants –  The apostles were bondservants Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God (Romans 1:1). Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: (Philippians 1:1). James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. (James 1:1) Notice, James had no problem with saying, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: (2 Peter 1:1).

Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ: (Jude 1:1)