SERVANTHOOD: YOUR FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME VOCATION?

1 Peter 2:4-5:11
It’s been said that, “The true test of a servant is how you respond when you’re treated like one.” The Lord seemed to impress upon me in today’s reading how He was repeatedly encouraging servant-behavior through Peter. He instructed his readers to be subject to every human institution (2:13) & servants to be subject to their masters (2:18). He also spoke repeatedly about our actions and the manner in which we respond to ill treatment. He said that husbands could be won “without a word by the conduct of their wives” (3:1) and that we can put to shame, by serving Christ faithfully, those who revile our good behavior (3:16). But he stressed that these actions should come from hearts which should also reflect these same commitments.

We are to sanctify Christ as Lord in our hearts (3:15). This should motivate us to possess servants’ hearts because Jesus suffered for us in order to bring us to God (3:18). Jesus is Lord and we have the responsibility to allow Him to ‘call the shots’ regarding all aspects of our lives. He is our Master. Christmas, however, is a season in which we can easily be distracted from a singular focus on Jesus. Gift buying, events celebrating the holiday, decorating, school activities, advertisements screaming for our attention and more can cause us to become overwhelmed and distracted.

BUT…true servants never forget what their purpose is or Who is their Master. True servants are always standing ready to fulfill the will of their Master. Part-time servants can wander and fail to behave consistent with their calling. Part-time servants can ‘take a break’ from serving and demand to be served. But full-time servants are never ‘off the clock’ and long to see a smile on the face of their Master. What is YOUR calling and are you full-time or part-time?