5)   This last point is most precious. It is quite sad that so many of us spend so much time in trying to arrange our programs of service for Him. It is common for believers to get a thought in their minds, and begin to pray about it, seeking to twist the arm of the Lord, to make Him fulfil their own plans. They even read the Scriptures daily, and use the Bible like a lottery book. They seek to discover some confirmation of their own plans from the Scriptures. Whereas the Scriptures tell us that we are His workmanship: That we are created in Christ Jesus for good works. But that God has already prepared those good works for us to walk in them. Eph. 2:10.

 

So many find 'guidance' to be a very difficult matter, but if we have reached the level of the bond-slave, then the problems will disappear. All we need to do is to daily seek His face, to get our directions from Him. Paul's first prayer is very significant. As he lay there on the road outside the walls of Damascus, he prayed, "Lord what wilt thou have me to do?" Let this be our daily prayer also!

 

 

Thus far we have examined some of the great advantages that accompany bond-slavery. These cannot be emphasized too much. But there costs also. We may expect the world to treat us in the same way that it has treated our Lord and Master. We may expect to be shunned, despised and rejected of men. This is the way that the world treated Him. They imputed the power of His actions to Beelzebub, the prince of demons. If we dare to confront the powers of darkness: If we seek to deliver lost men from the manacles of Satan, then we can expect to be accused wrongly, and to be misunderstood. We may expect this even from carnal Christians. For example, where one has the courage to resist the pressure of the Pentecostal-Charismatic persuasion, to accept their errors regarding the gifts of the Spirit, such are often accused of 'Blaspheming the Holy Spirit'.

 

To insist on the practice of plain decency in moral matters, one will most certainly be charged with 'vilification', or with being judgmental. This is the cost of just obeying our Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. The world will try to enlist the help of the Lord Jesus and his bond-slaves, in their political aims. They will attempt to portray Him as a revolutionary, and a political leader, but the Lord Jesus stood apart from all such movements, and if we are to be true to Him, we must do so as well.

 

Finally let me relate to you a story that I once heard Evangelist Billy Graham tell on his 'Hour of Decision' Once there was a kind master, (in the days of slavery), but he fell on difficult times, and had to sell one of his slaves. He took the poor man to the slave market, and several buyers came along and subjected him to a humiliating physical examination. It was just like a cattle bazaar. Then a gentleman came and asked the slave many questions. This man went to the owner, and the slave witnessed a battle of words, as the buyer tried to reduce the price required.  Then some money changed hands, and the new owner came to his slave. By this time the poor slave had experienced more humiliation that he could bear. He then launched into a tirade of abuse directed at the new owner. This person only smiled, and then said to the slave. "I bought you to set you free". At this the slave fell at the buyers feet, "Then sir, (he said), I will be your slave forever!" Love had won his heart, and it is the love of Christ, that will win our hearts, and bring us to this point where we too will gladly yield ourselves totally to Him forever.

 

May the Lord bring every one that reads these words, (as well as the person that writes them), to the point where we will gladly surrender all to His ownership and control. May He make us to taste the deep satisfaction, of being like our blessed Lord and Master. Let us remind ourselves again, that " It is sufficient for the disciple to be as his Master, and the bond-slave as his Lord!" [Concluded]