1 Peter 2:18-25
Romans 6:12-22; Romans 1:1;
Ephesians 1:7; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20;
Galatians 2:20; Colossians 2:6
The Greek word translated slave is “DOULOS”. It literally means to be owned by someone for a lifetime.
The Greek word translated servant is “DIAKONOS”
Major Ian Thomas in his book “The Saving Life of Christ” writes:
“The Christian life can be explained only in terms of Jesus Christ, and if your life as a Christian can still be explained in terms of you, your personality, your willpower, your gift, your talent, your money, your courage, your scholarship, your dedication, your sacrifice, or your anything – then although you may have the Christian life, you are not yet living it!
If the way you live your life as a Christian can be explained in terms of you, what have you to offer to the man who lives next door? The way he lives his life can be explained in terms of him, and so far as he is concerned, you happen to be ‘religious’ – but he is not! ‘ Christianity’ may be your hobby, but it is not his, and there is nothing about the way you practice it which strikes him as at all remarkable! There is nothing about you which leaves him guessing, and nothing commendable of which he does not feel himself equally capable without the inconvenience of becoming a Christian! It is only when your quality of life baffles the neighbors that you are likely to impress them. It has got to become patently obvious to others that the kind of life you are living is not only highly commendable, but that it is BEYOND ALL HUMAN EXPLANATION! That it is beyond the consequences of man’s capacity to imitate, and however little they may understand this, it is clearly the consequence only of God’s capacity to REPRODUCE HIMSELF IN YOU. In a nutshell, this means that your fellowmen must become convinced that the Lord Jesus Christ of whom you speak, is essentially Himself the ingredient of the life you live!”
Carmen Joy Imes “Bearing God’s Name” writes:
“Jesus took his vocation as Yahweh’s representative so seriously that others can see Yahweh by looking at him. John repeatedly highlights this, noting that Jesus had been sent by the Father to carry out his work in the world. ‘The works that the Father has given me to finish – the very works that I am doing – testify that the Father has sent me’ (John 5:36). He goes on, ‘I have come in the Father’s name’ (John 5:43). Jesus is the treasured one appointed to represent Yahweh. He even tells his disciples, ‘The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me’ (John 12:45). This is not just because he is God incarnate. It’s also because his behavior and his character reflects God’s the way every covenant member’s should. He wants his disciples to imitate him. He explains, ‘I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you’ (John 13:15).”
“Jesus’ prayer, ‘hallowed be your name,’ is not just wishful thinking, as though Jesus is hoping that Yahweh is doing well up there. His prayer implies a personal commitment to honoring that name through a life of faithful obedience.”
Major Ian Thomas
“Remember, He does not give you strength – He IS your strength.
He does not give you victory – He IS your victory!
He cannot be your LIFE without being ALL YOU NEED.”