The Faithful Servant

by R. I. Shaw, Kirkintilloch, Scotland | Category: General | Nov 1999

Confusion prevails! Defeat is inevitable!

You can imagine such headlines if an army of soldiers were each left to decide for themselves the course of action to take in any situation. Some would insist that their opinion must hold while others might even desert at the prospect of battle. But it is not like that. Governments lay down the terms under which each soldier is enlisted. He can either accept the terms or reject them but if he accepts them, central to all his service is total obedience to his Commanding Officer. Failure to obey, for whatever reason, would weaken the effectiveness of the Regiment and incur certain penalty.

Isaiah mentions four distractions which can undermine service. Of course, our great Leader and Lord is God's chosen Servant who overcame them all.

He will not fail nor be discouraged (Is. 42:4).

I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away (Is. 50:5).

Servants may be commended for their faithfulness and commitment but what about failure, discouragement, rebellion and retreat? Sadly, these also are possible. So let us learn from the perfect Servant.

Failure

This failure results from weakness or from dimness of the eye. The antidote is the vitality and vision derived from Christ and His Word. The Old Testament Scriptures contain many prophetic references to a daily dependence by the Lord on the living Word. It was His meditation. He experienced both its savour and its power. Such food for His soul was of greater value by far than His daily bread. If the latter, then, is described as 'necessary' (Job 23:12), how much more the former.

'In His law he meditates day and night' (Ps. 1:2).

'Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day (Ps. 119:97).

'He awakens Me morning by morning. He awakens My ear to hear as the learned' (Is. 50:4).

Daily feeding deters failure.

Discouragement

Discouragement conveys the idea of something crushed, bruised, broken or even cracked in pieces. It is an emotional experience. The Lord had truly human emotions. Despite all the goodness of His words and actions men hated Him and plotted against Him. Some were openly hostile; some were filled with unbelief. Others who had followed Him turned back later. 'Grief' is a love word and, loving men as He did, He wept over them. He was exceeding sorrowful and acquainted with grief. Yet the perfect Servant was devoted to His service, trusting in His God through every circumstance.

The love that never faltered

The love that paid the price

The love that made, undaunted

The final sacrifice. (C. A. Spring-Rice)

Hebrews 12:3 asks us to 'consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners... lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls'. He did not lose heart. What He suffered occupied the path He must follow as a faithful Servant.

Rebellion

Rebellion is resistance, often tinged with bitterness. It suggests selfishness and lack of faith. By contrast, Isaac, without resistance, was bound for sacrifice at Moriah's altar - only a picture of God's Lamb who submitted to His Father's will, no matter the outcome. He who knew 'all things that would come upon Him' (John 18:4) had set His face 'like a flint' (Is. 50:7). Absolute devotion spoke the words, '...not My will, but Yours, be done' (Luke 22:42). The perfect Servant would be neither disgraced nor ashamed by His service. Indeed, He would be glorified. His work was His Father's will.

Retreat

Such action describes someone showing his back who once showed his face. It is a refusal to continue, electing to turn back rather than to pursue the designated course to the finishing line. Calvary and the triumphant cry, 'It is finished' testify to a completed work. John wrote of the Lord, 'having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end' (John 13:1), and again, 'I have finished the work which You have given Me to do' (John 17:4).Himself He could not save,

Love's stream too deeply flowed,

In love Himself He gave

To pay the debt we owed.

Obedience to the Father's will

And love to Him did all fulfil. (A. Midlane)

Is it not entirely typical of the grace of God that the disciple chosen to write of Christ as God's perfect Servant, consecrated to His work, is John Mark who at one time had departed from service, apparently retreating to Jerusalem? He had evidently learned his lesson.

As we consider our Saviour and His absolute devotion as a Servant to God who had sent Him, may we His servants, have grace to resist every thought of failure, discouragement, rebellion or retreat.

Biblical quotations from the NKJV.

R. I. Shaw, Kirkintilloch, Scotland | Nov 1999
General