Wait, who is a servant of God?  Is it a pastor of a church who is sold out to Jesus?  Is it the one who plays an instrument?  Is the sincere one who leads in worship to God each week?  Is it the leader of a small group or the ones who teach and nurture kids?  Are these the ones whose hearts are given completely and resolutely to Jesus with a even greater desire to learn from Him with others?  YES! YES! YES!

But there’s so much more than who we see upfront.  Servants of God are also people who quietly take a meal, provide clothes, and give encouragement to someone in need.  Servants willingly stop their lives to listen, without judgment, to a hurting soul who has lost their way, felt betrayed, or broken by others.  A servant of God offers a kind word when least expected in a tenuous situation.  A servant of God seeks wisdom and discernment from God.  A servant loves God and seeks Him first before beginning each new day.  Servants pause to give thanks to God then listen closely for what He wants them to be and do next.  Servants desire God will as they seek His purpose for their lives.

Servants stand in loving awe, watching for the nod of the King of kings and Lord of lords ready to jump at the invitation by God to serve Him.  They know that serving is helping others know Him, too.  Servants leap at the opportunity to go in Jesus Name, led by the Holy Spirit who lives within them, to do whatever God says to do. 

Servants know to be still in God Presence, letting go of all that might hinder them in their relationship with God, before doing anything of significance for God.  Servants of God don’t “age out” or retire out of service.  As long as they live, servants of God carry on in whatever capacity He calls them to be and do in Jesus Name.  Servants know they are loved greatly and faithfully. In fact, the more servants realize the depth and breadth of God’s love; the more these servants love and serve others.  Their desire to serve grows exponentially and becomes their way of life! They believe without a doubt that when they serve someone else, they are serving Jesus who is our perfect example of serving.

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”—Jesus, Mark 10:45

“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”       –Jesus, showing His love, bent down to wash the feet of His disciples—even Judas who He knew was going to betray Him!  See John 13:1-17.

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” –Jesus, Matthew 25:40

Servants of God also bear the brunt of the attacks of the Enemy of God—just like Jesus did! This enemy is sly and cunning in his attacks with attempts to distract us from God, deceive us with lies about God, with the sole intent to destroy our relationship with God.  Those who say no to evil and remain faithful to Jesus know what the enemy hates—servants who worship of Jesus while falling to their knees, crying out in the Name of Jesus.  Jesus hears and is ready to help and to shepherd us through it, while reminding us that His power is always greater than the enemy:

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” –Jesus, John 15:4

Be sure to read to the end—This revelation passage reflects the love of God with a promise to His servants:

“The One on the Throne will pitch his tent there for them: no more hunger, no more thirst, no more scorching heat. The Lamb on the Throne will shepherd them, will lead them to spring waters of Life. And God will wipe every last tear from their eyes.”

(I’m not crying, you’re crying—okay, we’re both crying—tears of joy!)

Servants!  Read and rejoice!

Revelation 7, The Message

The Servants of God

Immediately I saw Four Angels standing at the four corners of earth, standing steady with a firm grip on the four winds so no wind would blow on earth or sea, not even rustle a tree.

^2-3 Then I saw another Angel rising from where the sun rose, carrying the seal of the Living God. He thundered to the Four Angels assigned the task of hurting earth and sea, “Don’t hurt the earth! Don’t hurt the sea! Don’t so much as hurt a tree until I’ve sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads!”

^4-8 I heard the count of those who were sealed: 144,000! They were sealed out of every Tribe of Israel: 12,000 sealed from Judah, 12,000 from Reuben, 12,000 from Gad, 12,000 from Asher, 12,000 from Naphtali, 12,000 from Manasseh, 12,000 from Simeon, 12,000 from Levi, 12,000 from Issachar, 12,000 from Zebulun, 12,000 from Joseph, 12,000 sealed from Benjamin.

* * *

^9-12 I looked again. I saw a huge crowd, too huge to count. Everyone was there—all nations and tribes, all races and languages. And they were standing, dressed in white robes and waving palm branches, standing before the Throne and the Lamb and heartily singing:

Salvation to our God on his Throne!
Salvation to the Lamb!

All who were standing around the Throne—Angels, Elders, Animals—fell on their faces before the Throne and worshiped God, singing:

Oh, Yes!
The blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving,
The honor and power and strength,
To our God forever and ever and ever!
Oh, Yes!

^13-14 Just then one of the Elders addressed me: “Who are these dressed in white robes, and where did they come from?” Taken aback, I said, “O Sir, I have no idea—but you must know.”

^14-17 Then he told me, “These are those who come from the great tribulation, and they’ve washed their robes, scrubbed them clean in the blood of the Lamb. That’s why they’re standing before God’s Throne. They serve him day and night in his Temple. The One on the Throne will pitch his tent there for them: no more hunger, no more thirst, no more scorching heat. The Lamb on the Throne will shepherd them, will lead them to spring waters of Life. And God will wipe every last tear from their eyes.”

Lord,

Thank you for your encouraging words of love, mercy, and grace. Thank you for reminding us that you win in the end with power beyond our enemy, beyond our circumstances when we call on Your Name. Thank you for trials that show your power and glory at work.  Thank you for peace that comes in the middle of pain and suffering. Thank you for helping us walk through the fires. Most of all thank you for daily cleansing our hearts as we seek you first each morning. Thank you for forgiving us as we forgive others. Thank you for shepherding us to places and people who need to know you more. Thank you for inviting us to your work. Thank you for renewing our minds by your Word. Thank you for refreshing our souls! Thank you for restoring the joy of your salvation at work within us with the promise of “no more tears” of hurt and despair.  Thank you for paying the debt of all sin and redeeming us forever.

In Jesus Name, Amen