As I mentioned awhile back I am reading through a pretty neat book by Elisabeth Elliot titled: "A lamp for my feet". It's her thoughts, prayers and reactions to scripture and lifes events... I always enjoy reading how other people view life. Anyway, as promised - here is one snippet that I just wanted to share as its something I'm working on, personally, and know that others can benefit from hearing, as well.
Volunteer Slaves
"Slave" is not a word most of us nowadays "feel comfortable" with. It is significant that most modern Bible translations use "servant" instead. For a slave is not his own, has no rights whatsoever, is not in charge of what happens to him, makes no choices about what he will do or how he is to serve, is not recognized, appreciated, thanked or even (except by his absence) noticed at all.
Once we give up our slavery to the world, which is a cruel master indeed, to become Christ's bondslave, we live out our servitude to Him by glad service to others. This volunteer slavery cannot be taken advantage of - we have chosen to surrender everything for love. It is a wholly different thing from forced labor. It is in fact the purest joy when it is most unobserved, most unself-conscious, most simple, most freely offered.
Lord, break the chains that hold me to myself; free me to be your happy slave - that is, to be the happy foot-washer of anyone today who needs his feet washed, his supper cooked, his faults overlooked, his work commended, his failure forgiven, his griefs consoled, or his button sewed on. Let me not imagine that my love for YOU is very great if I am unwilling to do for a human being something very small."
Elisabeth Elliot - "A lamp for my Feet" (1985)
2 comments:
I really enjoyed reading this excerpt - thanks! I will have to get a hold of that book! {grin}
Thanks for your very sweet and very kind comment! I look forward to following you, too! I love conecting with people through blogging - especially godly Mommys!
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