April 24, 2013
-
Bond-Servant.
Here’s my attempt to mesh two blog posts seamlessly into one. One was started months ago and the other began weeks ago.
I do a lot of things but I don’t do a lot of things well and often wish I had one thing I was known as doing well. I play golf but I’m no golfer. I ski but I’m no skier. I bike but I’m not a cyclist. I play softball but I’m not a softball player. I go fishing but I’m not a fisherman. I run but I’m not a runner. I go bowling but I’m not a bowler. When I was younger, I played basketball and was a basketball player. Was. Honestly, I liked that. I was known for something I succeeded at but now I just dabble in all these hobbies. I can do them to the extent of enjoying them but no one thing is my thing. Last summer, I played frisbee golf a couple times with friends. I laughed that people took it so seriously but the more I thought about it, the more I envied their dedication to it. As silly as I thought it was and still kind of do.
I’ve really been contemplating what I want to be known for in my life. My answer. Know me as a servant. A Bond-Servant of Jesus Christ. John 13:35, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Just like the above, if not more, it’s critical to train because it isn’t a natural gift. To die to self. Just as any sport takes training – discipline – dedication – self-control, so does walking in the way of the Lord. As much as I wish it was a natural gift to be selfless and humble, it isn’t. It takes work. Hard work but the real question is, are we disciplined enough?
Losing weight comes to mind. If you want to lose weight, you dedicate yourself to working out, eating right etc. It doesn’t just happen. It isn’t enough to just say you want to lose weight. You have to do something about it. What about being Spiritually fit? Why don’t we I dedicate more time to that?
A couple weeks ago, a former co-worker died. He was 27. I had the honor of working directly with him many summers ago, as well as with his wife in a more indirect way. We had kept in contact in various ways throughout the years – personally and work related. His death rattled me. A rattling I am certain I needed.
He left his wife and 2 year old son behind. He had stage 4 cancer and was diagnosed when he was 25 (my age). His life, his story and his death was and is such an inspiration to me. Not to mention his wife. Living in High Definition was there claim to fame. Their blog reached 404,000 people as of April 11. That’s incredible. There story was heard but more important, His story was told because that’s the life Ryan lived and the one Kendra continues to live. Humbling to say the least.
The funeral was such a beautiful celebration of God, then Ryan. A life, a story like that is inspirational. You see, Ryan was just an ordinary guy who had cancer. Ordinary guy with an extraordinary God. That’s what made the difference.
I will never be a golfer or cyclist or fill in the blank. I will never be Ryan. Or inspire the way he did. But the world doesn’t need another Ryan or another somebody else. God wants me to be who He created me to be. I am a very ordinary and plain person with an extraordinary God. He can use me in the areas He has me in life.
I may just be a basketball coach. I may just work at RBC. I may just teach 5th grade SS. I may just be an aunt, sister, daughter, friend. These things can seem mundane and insignificant, at times, but these are the roles of servant-hood God has called me into, for now.
How humbling it would be to be introduced or even thought of this way:
“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God…” Romans 1:1
“This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus…” Phil. 1:1
“Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ…” 2 Peter 1:
“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,…” James 1:1
My goal in life is to daily train to be, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, continually dedicating myself to the mindset of Galatians 2:20-21, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”
———–
I’d highly suggest reading the blogs written on April 4, 7 and 8. Once you feel some connection with him, read what he wrote March 31st, just over a week before he died. Then read the words his wife spoke at the funeral. Her strength in the Lord is so humbling. She posted them on April 15 or even more powerful, watch her speak them. Such strength. Her speaking begins at the end of the first clip at 52 minutes and 50 seconds. Yes, the service was long but didn’t feel that way at all. Honestly, the most powerful funeral I’ve ever been to.
