James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. (NIV) James 1:1
In the opening verse of his book, James describes himself as “a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” The position of slave implied 3 things:
. . . absolute obedience
. . . absolute humility
. . . absolute loyalty
A slave had no rights of his own. He was the absolute possession of his master. And he was obligated to give his master unquestioning obedience. It was a humble position that demanded a man to think of his duties and obligations rather than his privileges. And it demanded the slaves’ loyalty to his master. The slave had no interests of his own, all he did was for His Master.
Have you given up your rights, your claims to your own life, to your Master in heaven? Do you realize that you truly are your Master’s possession? All that you have was given to you by Him. How do you show your Master unquestioning obedience? Are you always thinking of the privileges you deserve? or of how you can serve your Master and His Kingdom? How is your loyalty to your Master lived out on a moment to moment basis?
It is a privilege to be serving the Master in Heaven and to have a part in His purposes. . . claim your rightful position of slave and inherit the privileges of being the Master’s heir. . . the co-heir with Jesus Christ. . . the heir of God’s glorious Kingdom!
Written by Marji “Mike” Kruger
