The Marks of a Servant

“…but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things."
2 Corinthians 6:4-10


Observation:
These are the marks of the servant of the kingdom of God. Paul avoids clever persuasion and prefers to be a sincere recruiter when putting on the table the reality of his experience as a servant. He clearly defines the expectations of our service to the Lord. He paints a portrait with the vivid colors of valor, courage, joy and satisfaction. But he also mixes a darker chromatic scale of suffering, hardships, afflictions, poverty, and distress. Paul’s speech about the realities of serving God probably will not be welcomed in a Bible college graduation or in ordination ceremonies. We rather like the vivid colors to paint our life of service and avoid the painful darkened colors. We want a portfolio of success and fruitfulness without the unavoidable pain and suffering that takes us there.
Why is Paul so brutally honest? Why he has to paint so realistically? Well, I like to think that is because Paul knows the dangers of serving the Lord in a surreal way. He saw many come and go fascinated with the idea of serving God and yet frustrated with its complexity. Maybe he speaks out the wounds caused by John mark when he abandoned him in the ministry. The point is that Paul wants us to be real in our service to the Lord. He prefers a genuine servant that portrays all the marks of a true servants over a surreal kingpin of ministry that looks too clean, and too perfect.

Application:
I remember my days of surreal dreams as a servant of God. We feel invincible, like nothing can separate us from he love of God. Our expectations are high, but unrealistic. Then, in the path of service, we encounter the unavoidable reality that sticks to genuine servants. We see our canvas tinted with sorrow, suffering, trials, hunger, labors, afflictions, etc. My first response then was to complain and demand God for what I was expecting as a reward for my service. In his grace, he opened my eyes from my surreal lifestyle and took me to a place of understanding the marks of a servant. Why is so important to walk with such veracity and genuine attitude? Because is vital for our endurance in the battlefield. If we thing that going to war is a noble thing that will pump our valor and gallantry we will be quickly disappointed. Engaging in the heavenly army is a glorious most wonderful honor we could have. But is equally loaded with a price we must be willing to pay. When we walk in such reality, then we will wait for pain. And when we learn how to wait for it, we will respond to it properly. That’s why God takes us through seasons of training. These spiritual drills are supposed to develop a character of a warrior.
Almost every decorated soldier I have met has scars. Why not the servants of the real God?


PRAYER: Dear Jesus, please let me be a man that carries the true marks with honor and diligence. Please help me in those moments where I become desperate and I doubt of your love for me because things become difficult and unbearable. Give me an attitude to endure and persevere the pains and struggles until the blessing comes through. Do not let me live a surreal walk with you, but teach me how to adore you in the good and in the bad times. I love you Jesus. AMEN!