What it means to be a servant of God

Since in the description of my blog, I list many things that I am, I shall begin a short series of each of the things that I claim to be. This is most certainly the one thing in which I fall short the most of all. 

To be a servant of God means submitting to His sovereign will in all things. How difficult and seemingly impossible it can be! Our sinful pride tells us that we know best, that God’s way couldn’t be the unrivaled way to go. But in John 12:26, Jesus says: “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.”

We are to serve God, and be a good example to those around us: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”  -Matthew 5:16

How then are we to receive the strength to humble ourselves and walk as servants before God? Prayer is the answer. By praying and meditating on the truths of God’s holy inspired word, He will give us the strength we need to be, and set an example to others of, a servant of God. 

Below is a poem that I wrote some time ago: 

May I Never Stray

Inspired by: “The Gospel Way” from “the Valley of Vision” Puritan prayers

How carnal flesh could contrive the Gospel 

There’s not a single way

God, my Lord is the inventor

The one to whom I pray

Thou art the messenger and the message

In eternal grace

The hope that burns within me

Is to one day see Thy face

You know our trials, You’ve borne them all

In the same way, been tempted thus

You lived on earth and died on the cross

All because of us

We are not worthy to be called Your sons

We deserve the pains of hell

But instead You chose to save us

And will take us to heaven to dwell

Why You chose to save us

We surely cannot tell

When others just as wicked

Were sent straight to hell

You lived on earth that I might be freed

Ransomed, redeemed, vindicated

You died that awful death

And now I’m expiated

Eternal thanks to Thee, O Lamb

For opening this way

Praises without end to Thee

I sing every day

O glorious Trinity

Impress upon my soul

The wonders of the Gospel

In its wondrous whole

Until its virtue circulates 

To every faculty

Let it be professed

That Christ is in me

Help my stubborn will

To overcome my faults

To assassinate each darling lust

Until my combat halts

Make me to submit my heart

My life and its command

To stick strictly to the Truth

And against all errors stand

Not departing from the Truth 

No matter what befalls

If I meet with persecution

I’m safe within Thy walls

Strip me of everything 

That could be counted as good

But keep my one true focus 

On the One that I should

I have neglected thee too long

Often crucified Thee

By my own impenitence 

You’ve been put to shame by me

I thank Thee my dear Saviour

That Thou hast been patient with me

You’ve borne with me so very long

While I think of mutiny

Unite me to Thyself 

With bonds that cannot break

That nothing might ever part me 

Not even flames or stake

Thanks for reading! 

-Grace