8-21-20 THOUGHTS

In yesterday’s thoughts, we referred to Deut 15:12-18 & Ex 21:1-6.  In our song book is a beautiful song that we sing titled “PIERCE MY EAR”.  That song comes from the verses below.  It’s the story of a person who is HAPPY TO BE OWNED!  
Deut 15:12-18     "If your kinsman, a Hebrew man or woman, is sold to you, then he shall serve you six years, but in the seventh year you shall set him free. 13  "When you set him free, you shall not send him away empty-handed. 14  "You shall furnish him liberally from your flock and from your threshing floor and from your wine vat; you shall give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you. 15  "You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today. 16  "It shall come about if he says to you, ‘I will not go out from you,’ because he loves you and your household, since he fares well with you; 17  then you shall take an awl and pierce it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your servant forever. Also you shall do likewise to your maidservant. 18  "It shall not seem hard to you when you set him free, for he has given you six years with double the service of a hired man; so the LORD your God will bless you in whatever you do.      Ex 21:1-6 is a similar reading.
Rom 1:1     Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called [as] an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,        James, Peter and Jude all referred to themselves as bond-servants.
Doulos is the Greek word.  It means a slave, bondman, a man of servile condition,   metaphorically, one who gives himself up to another’s will...  one devoted to another to the disregard of his own interests

It seems it is to be the Christian way of living.
Matt 23:10-12    "Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. 11  "But the greatest among you shall be your servant.  12  "Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
John 12:26   "If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
Gal 1:10    For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

My Prayer:
We want to belong to you Oh God.  Teach us to be happy servants, rejoicing as we bear fruit.  Help us to know the joy of belonging.  Cause us to see that we must give up self in order to rise to the position of servant of the MOST HIGH GOD.      In the name of Jesus                     Amen