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What type of servant am I? This is your personal time to self-reflect.
A Servant of God Is Real
You are not expected to be hidden. You are a shining light. So, who are you? First of all, a servant of God hurts, moans, cries, loves, and laughs. Emotions of a servant are a part of who you are. Salvation (coming to Christ) did not make you invisible. Instead, it makes you who God intended you to be.
Although your emotions are part of your character, they are not in control of you. Sometimes, I literally cry because I am moved by my compassion. I also cry because of seeing the lack of compassion people have for others. My response to the situation, however, should be controlled by the Spirit within me. It does not mean mistakes will not be made. It means that the compassion of God should override my behavior. So, ask yourself, “What type of servant am I?”
A Servant’s Wounds
A TV commercial from ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) can bring me to tears. The wounds and treatment of these animals are heartbreaking. But under the care of this society, the before and after pictures capture what a caring staff can achieve. These animals are at the mercy of caregivers. Under the care of great caregivers, they have hope. Finally, the pictures do not show outwardly the scars and trauma that these animals went through.
So, it is with any servant of God. Their outward appearance does not show what they went through. For most, you will only know their pain through their stories or as a witness to their truth. Yes, the scars still exist as a reminder of what a servant endured. But those scars are reflections of God’s glory too.
The Healing Balm of Gilead for the Servant
A servant of God has a “balm (b-a-l-m) in Gilead.” The servant goes through a process of healing, soothing, and restoring. It is the application of the blood through Jesus Christ. Scar tissue over a serious wound witnesses their tormenting situation. The scars from healing wounds! They show that the servant has been in a battle(s). But God binds up his wounds. Jesus is the symbol of their healing balm.
The Servant Reciprocates
Because God shows mercy, the servant must show mercy. He reciprocates. The Holy Spirit takes the lead. What happened before this servant’s transformation? Before the servant’s transformation, bitterness and hard-heartedness were at home in his heart. Unrepenting ways would lead this individual. Driven by short-sightedness was the cause of his blindside. Deeply scarred, fractured, and broken. Yes, wounded persons hurt others. Thus, there exist many opportunities to hurt people. But now, the servant’s transformative spirit is that of Matthew 5:7. “Blessed are the merciful for they will obtain mercy.” Though the servant is imperfect, the Holy Spirit perfects those things regarding him. That is, this type of servant listens to the voice of the Holy Spirit, and then righteousness prevails.
The Servant’s Self-Control
One of the most significant changes in this type of servant is self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Jesus is the model of self-control. Of course, the servant of God is not Jesus. Still, the servant’s behaviors are a result of self-control by the Holy Spirit. For example, are my actions Christ-like or self-righteous? What are my response(s) to the situation(s)? Will it reflect Christ-like behavior? Or will it reflect more about my desire to prove my own self-righteousness? What is the right response? What type of servant am I?
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The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your (His) faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSV). Encourage Yourself.