Servant of God

Servant of God – The Story of Paul
Paul was a true servant of God. The last recorded letter of Paul, the second letter to Timothy, was written from a Roman prison cell. The time of Paul's execution was close at hand and Paul was encouraging Timothy to carry on the work of the ministry with all faith and diligence. He wrote:

"In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry" (2 Timothy 4:1-5).

Servant of God – The Challenge to Timothy
After these words of instruction and challenge to Timothy, Paul records his final thoughts -- reflections on his life's work as a servant of God. These words stand as a lighthouse for every Believer. They shine in a dark world to guide each of us safely home. They are words that every child of God should be willing to pay any price to say.

"For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:6-7).

Servant of God – Fighting the Good Fight
When Paul reflected on his life as a servant of God, he was able to say, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith…" A short time after these words were written, Paul's earthly life ended. Immediately he stood in the presence of the Lord, for he had already told us that to be absent from the body was to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). There is no doubt that when he saw Jesus, he fell at His feet. I can see Jesus reaching down to take him by the arm, lifting him up and pulling him close, and with a smile on His face saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" (Matthew 25:21).

If ever there was any doubt in the heart and mind of Paul as to whether his life for Christ was worth all he had lost, all he had sacrificed, and all he had suffered, that question was answered at that moment. What better reward than to hear our Lord say, "Well done!"

Servant of God – Well Done!
Are you a true servant of God? Am I? In a day soon to come we all will stand before Jesus. For some of us it may be immediate; for others it may be several years. But that day is coming. When you reflect on your life as that day approaches, can you repeat the words of Paul? When you stand before Jesus, will you hear Him say, "Well done!"?

The choices you and I make today will determine the outcome. What is it that keeps us from being free to serve God? What principles do we need to apply in our lives so that we might have freedom to serve Him? On what are we placing more value than Jesus? Indeed, the greatest freedom a person can have is to be a servant of God!

If you’re looking for a way to exercise your new-found freedom as a servant of God, we recommend sponsoring a child through a solid Christian charity. If you feel led, please visit our friends at Compassion International.