I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of
god's grace given me through the working of his power.
It is easy for me to
think of being a servant of Christ - easy to think but not to act on - but I was
stunned by this verse's insistence that it is the Good News that we are serving.
The word, the gospel, is our master not simply Jesus. The word has a life of
its own: spreading, flourishing, moving, returning at a rate that confounds
authorities and overcomes opposition (Acts 4.17, 6.7, 12.24). Spreading is what
the Good News does. We are not needed but graciously wanted, asked and equipped
as co-labourers. We sow seeds, we speak words, we live, breathe, act Good News,
but we do it in cooperation with God's grace, anointed and enabled by his
power. And so what does this mean practically? For we are reading a practical
book here. To be a servant is to receive orders, to act on behalf of, to work
for, to give yourself in service of. And this is not just any old master. This
Good News is radical, peacemaking, reconciling, accepting. A beautiful boss to
be working for. And so what's our office? Where's our desk? What's on the don's
agenda? We have been appointed a particular, peculiar, unique set of
circumstances in which to serve this mighty word. Be an agent of good news
today. Be a willing slave and listen out for your instructions.
No comments:
Post a Comment