The
Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants,
the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His
angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the
testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and
those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written
in it; for the time is near.
Revelation 1:1-3 (NASB)
Bond-slave: A slave is totally possessed by his master. They have no personal rights and only existed
for the purpose of service to their master. The slave was totally subservient
to the master, owing total obedience to the will of the master. This difference between a servant (slave) and
a bond-slave is the motivation behind the service. A bond-slave really could be
called a “love-slave” in that they serve out of love and devotion to their
master. (Side note: I have heard guys
use the following verses as a biblical reason to get an earing) But if the slave plainly says, 'I love my
master, my wife and my children; I will not go out as a free man,' then his
master shall bring him to God, then he shall bring him to the door or the
doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve
him permanently. Exodus 21:5-6 (NASB).
This concept of bond-slave
is also used by the writer James the Lord’s brother in his greeting and as description
of himself. (See James 1).
It is this description that all followers of Christ
would like said about them. I am not simply a Christian, a church goer, pastor,
Community Leader, whatever your title or descriptor may be…you and I are called
to be bond-servants serving our master Jesus Christ out of love and adoration
for Him. So John, this “love slave” for
Jesus was privileged to experience the future events that would come suddenly
and soon.
A few questions to ask yourself: Why do I do the
things that I do? Why do I go to church, read my bible, or do other
"Christian things"? Why do I participate in the ministry that I am
involved in? Motive is huge when you really think about it. If I do
"good things" because I feel it is my "duty" or to impress
someone then I am missing the point of serving God. There are life areas that
are "supposed to do's", but even those should be accomplished out of
love for the person serving and at a higher level for Jesus Himself.
Jesus said, The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you,
to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least
of them, you did it to Me. Matthew 25:40 (NASB).
In the same vein, Jesus specifically asks Peter the same
question a master would ask a bond-slave…do you love me unconditionally and will
you serve others from that same love perspective? Jesus not only asks the
question, and in Peter’s case three times, He gave him a directive…”feed my
sheep”, in other words, If you love me then express that love to others. (See
John 21:15-17). So I am on a pilgrimage
to learn what “feed my sheep” looks like in and through my life and context. I
hope you too will wrestle with being a bond-servant and seeing how to live that
out as Jesus would live it through you.
