Ephesians 6:5-9

Ephesians 6:5-9 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ should be the lifestyle of a Christian whether he or she is in bondage or free. Our lives should reveal Christ and the living water within us. From our innermost beings the river of God should flow to a dry and thirsty land. We should hold out the bread of life to a hungry people. As Jesus came to serve and to bring life to men, we ought also to bring life to this wounded and dying world. As God's dearly loved children, we are to manifest his likeness through our service to others, not through our freedom, even though in Christ, we are free indeed. Sometimes when situations, human interactions, and life in general frustrate us, we question our calling or we are tempted to stop serving and doing good to those who harm or take advantage of us. But God asks us to serve and to minister with hearts of loving kindness and mercy as He serves us, so we must recommit by faith to his purposes. No other life brings joy, peace and contentment except doing his will, not ours. We bow to God's plans and purposes, not ours. As servants of our glorious Lord and King, we bow before him, placing our lives at his feet, seeking his strength to live our lives victoriously.

When I read these scriptures on servanthood and slavery, I think of Moses angrily striking the rock in the wilderness to find water for the rebellious children of Israel. He struck the rock twice rather than speaking to the rock as God had instructed. He acted in anger out of frustration with God's people. Their constant grumbling had affected Moses' relationship with God. He was so disappointed with the people he led that he failed to obey his Lord. In our difficulties and trials, we sometimes want to strike the rock angrily rather than obey our Lord. In our disappointment with others, we may allow anger and bitterness to well up within us, clouding our vision and dulling our spiritual senses. Rather than following God's instructions, we may try to solve our problems with others by scolding or striking back. Refusing to listen to God and lacking patience with those around us, we may want to force issues and retaliate in a "righteous" rage. Although Moses disobeyed God and stepped out of his will, God brought forth water that day for the Israelites; yet He judged his servant Moses harshly, taking away his right to enter the Promised Land. The consequences of Moses' anger and God's discipline fell on his own head, not on the rebellious Israelites. As a servant of the Most high, Moses paid a heavy price before going to God's bosom.

Today, we must serve God and not our own selfish desires or foolish rage. When we approach life as faithful servants of the Lord, the Holy Spirit teaches us obedience and gives us the strength to do good and to help others regardless of the circumstances. By faith, we put our trust in God that He can bring living water from an inert stone, life from the rocky places in our lives. When we were dead in sin, Christ died for us; consequently, we love and serve those in rebellion and sin today, treating them tenderly with mercy and grace, doing good to them and repaying evil with loving kindness. Since our lives are not our own and we were bought with a great price, we serve others just as we serve Christ: with hearts full of his love. Rather than striking rocks angrily, we walk in the Spirit and shed seeds of mercy, forgiveness, and peace. As members of the body of Christ, we love the world as Christ first loved us; we go about doing good in the footsteps of our Lord. We are his faithful servants, those who follow hard after him. The Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does: his promise to the bond-slaves of love. Do not grow weary in doing good: God will bless your faithfulness and has laid up for you a crown of righteousness that will never fade. Praise his name forever.