“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Summary: It is easy to get caught up in “going with the flow” and celebrate Christmas without knowing why. Pausing to think about why we celebrate Christmas will add meaning and light to our celebration.
Tomorrow we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus. Do you know why? If we could sit down together and talk, what would you tell me?
The reason I ask, “Do you know why?” is simple; it is easy to get caught up in the excitement of the celebration and not know why. Veteran’s Day is a good example.
I remember when I was a teen, the little town I lived in would have a parade on Veteran’s Day. I was part of a Dixie Land band that performed in it for several years. We would ride on the back of a flatbed truck and play “When the Saints Come Marching In” or “St. Louis Blues” while the truck slowly made its way along the parade route.
Everyone in town seemed to be there and a lot was going on. My focus was on the group I was with and the music we were playing but I could not help but notice the flags and the veterans in uniform. There was an underlying importance to the celebration. There were somber moments at the local cemetery, and ceremonies that I did not understand.
Why was I there?
It was not because my family was overly patriotic. We were not. We were not unpatriotic, but it was not something we talked about much in our home. The reason I was involved in the celebration was because of our band and the parade. I did not know any better. I had just come along for the ride.
When we celebrate Christmas, it is fair to ask, “Why?” Is it just because everyone else is doing it? After all, the merchants have decorated their stores for Christmas. The radio is playing Christmas music, at least on some stations. There are the occasional old Christmas movies on television.
Why?
Why do people bother?
In Luke’s Gospel, he tells the story of how Mary came to know that she was going to become pregnant by God (Luke 1: 26-38). The angel Gabriel appears to Mary and greets her. Mary is “greatly troubled” at this. I think this might have been an understatement. Then, after the angel has relayed his message she asks, “How will this be?”
That question echoes down through the centuries. How is this possible? How could God become man? Who is this Jesus person? Where is he now?
For those of us who have met the Lord personally, we get it. Like the veterans who served in WWII or the wars that followed, they understand what Veteran’s Day is all about in a way that I will never know. But there is another war that continues to this day. It is a war between Good and Evil. It is a war for the hearts and minds of God’s people. It is a war that I am familiar with.
Jesus tells us, “Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life” (John 6: 47).
For those of us engaged in this war, we stand with Mary as she responds to God’s emissary. Her words embody the perfect response to Jesus, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.”
This Christmas, the question is the same as it has been for centuries. Are you celebrating the birth of the one who would give everything to save you from hell, or are you just along for the ride?
Merry Christmas!
Application: Sit down with yourself for a few minutes and ask yourself why you celebrate Christmas.
Food for Thought: What does it mean to be the “Lord’s servant”?
What does it mean to be the Lords servant?
I would think it would mean to always have an ear for your Lords commands, being humble and willing to do any dirty job or task that others may scoff at. It might mean to do things because you know that the Lord would be delighted by it.
Then being The Lords servant has its privileges.
Tim,
I like your phrase, “always have an ear for your Lord’s commands.” I remember hearing someone describe how the servant of a king would keep their eyes on the kings hands. With a slight motion of a finger, the king could direct the servant to attend to a guest, take away a plate, bring refreshments, or any number of tasks. There was a direct and constant connection between servant and master. It was unspoken, unseen, and yet complete and effective. In the same way, as you point out, we always have an ear for the Lord’s commands. Well said!
Being the Lord’s servant means letting God be in charge. So often we try to be back seat driver, kind of a, “you get the wheel, I’ll give the directions.” But God still has the map, so why are we giving directions? But that doesn’t mean we should pout in the back seat, that’s also not being a good servant….. Okay, my analogy is very limited.
Being the Lord’s servant means we go where He goes, we speak how He speaks, we do as He does, we’re treated how He is treated. Because we are associated, when people see us that will think of Him and what we do effects how they think of Him.
You raise an important point – and a scary one. How does what we do reflect on our God?
We cannot know, but I take comfort in Romans 8: 28 –
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Even in my failures, God is able to turn it to good.
This is one of the truths in my “belt of truth” (Ephesians 6: 14).
I like what your saying A. Being associated with/by Jesus. Guilty or not guilty by association. Being the Lords servant but more because your in covenant with Him.
Thanks! That’s actually a much simpler way of saying it. I always think the long way around to my conclusion. But yeah, covenant covers it. 😉
Hmmm. Doing what He says, Him being Lord, covenant. I am just going to say thank you and agree. Merry Christmas to you all.
Rich,
Thank you for being so ‘agreeable’ today! 🙂
The way I look at being the Lord’s servant is to continue conveying His message of forgiveness and eternal life in His name and His name alone,..
John the Baptist stressed make straight a way for the Lord,..Jesus command to us in the letter from Matthew is to go and make disciples and baptize them in the name of the Father,. Himself ( Jesus The Son ) and the Holy Spirit,..that is certainly a way to be a servant,..
Just for the record,..in the circle every Monday morning with the crews we will be heading into the 15th chapter of Mark,..last week we talked a bit about the difference between Judas and Peter,..
Judas went out and hung himself after what he did to Jesus,..and Peter went back home and sulked after what he did or didn’t do,..
We don’t have any letters from Judas in the Bible but we have some letters from Peter,.. I thank God that He used people like Peter to convey His message to people like me,..I was like Peter in the denial department,..but after an eye opening experience I do my best to do as Peter has done in his letters to us,..convey this message that Jesus gave us,..love one another as He has loved us,..believe in Him and the words He spoke,..I am sure you can add to the list but this is my take on being a servant of the Lord,..
John,
I love that you are sharing the Word with your employees each week. That is fantastic!! You make a great point about Peter. I can relate as well. If we want to serve the Lord it is right to look to His Word for guidance on what to do.
Blessings!
12-24-2021, Luke 3:38, What does it mean to be the “Lord’s servant”?
Paul writes he was a “slave” of Christ. Romans 1:1, the highest calling there is or ever will be.
In my early years as a believer I was having some difficulty, a wonderful old saint at our church asked me about it, I told him and he replied. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be given unto you. Matthew 6:33,” patted me on the shoulder and walked away. I had no idea what he was talking about, but I never forgot that verse, and in time it made perfect since to me.
Our spiritual transformation takes place the moment we accept Christ. Eventually, there comes a point in time where we begin to wake up and see the spiritual richness of our life in Christ and the true poverty of this physical world. We begin to live as the eternal beings we truly are. We realize all power to live in obedience to God comes from Christ as He serves others through us. We learn our task is to get out of His way and let Him minister, as we begin to enjoy the relationship we have with Him through obedience to His will, which leads to increased obedience.
2 Corinthians 3:18, And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Jesus paid His life for all those who come to truly know Him. To be a slave of Christ is to seek His will in everything. We renounce our right to direct our own lives as we submit to Him. Jesus brings correction and truth and stability into our lives as we are convicted by the Holy Spirit and begin the process of daily dying to the power of sin and allowing Christ’s life to flow toward others through us.
1 Corinthians 6:20, Luke 6:46, Galatians 2:20,
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world , but be transformed and progressively changed by the renewing of your mind , so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL.
Ron,
Thank you! Merry Christmas to you, too!! 🙂