tested | Revelations From The Road

Seven Levels Of Servanthood – An Update

August 6, 2012 by Bill Leave a Comment

I pray every day to be a servant of the Lord. I say, “Lord, how may I serve you today?”, and He’ll usually give me some task to do or a person to encourage. As I was praying this day, the Lord showed me that there are levels of servanthood which opened my eyes to my service. I hope it will be enlightening to you as well.

The first level of servanthood is to make the decision that you WANT to be a servant. You cannot serve unless you decide to. The second level is what I call, a day worker. These servants report to the Master each day and ask “Where do I go and what do you want me to do today”? No routine, no regularity, just show up willing to do the Master’s bidding.

The third level comes when the Master says, “Servant, I notice you are here every day willing to go and do whatever I ask. Today and from now on, I want you to report to the barn. I have some daily tasks I want you to do out there.” This will be some hard work but there is regularity with it. The fourth level may come later when the Master again says, “Son, I see how you come to serve each day, you work well and even stay late sometime. Beginning tomorrow, I want you to come serve as a house servant with the rest of the staff. Report to the Master’s house tomorrow.” This is a good promotion and the work is steady, you have a uniform and you’re working inside in a clean environment.

Level five comes when the servant does such an impressive job with the house staff that the Master asks him to be his personal servant. He will now move upstairs and be at the beck and call of the Master. Level six comes when the Master is scheduled to attend an important function but is unable to go. The servant has gained the trust and respect of the Master and he says, “Servant, I cannot attend this event next week and I want you to go as my representative.” “You have proven yourself in my service and you will have the same authority I would have at this event.” The servant goes and represents the Master well, the Master is pleased. The last level comes the next day when the Master calls his servant in and says, “We didn’t have enough day workers show up this morning and I need you to go down there and work today.” The servant says, “Whatever you need Master, I will go.”

I think these levels of servanthood come with being tested and proven for the work of the Kingdom. I want to be tested and proven to move from glory to glory and have the favor of the Master who says, “…If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all. Mark 9: 35b“. It seems like I spend a lot of time as a day worker. But that’s OK. As long as I get to serve my Master. What kind of servant are you?

Do Something!

March 5, 2012 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given March 5, 2012

Have you asked God to do something for you and are still waiting for it to happen? Me too, and there are several reasons why this has happened. Like Joseph, (Genesis 37-41), God may be preparing the way step by step for the culmination of His plan. You may still be in the pit or the prison but God is preparing the palace for you. But He may be waiting for YOU to do something.

Picture a teenage boy coming to his dad and asking, “Dad, can I have the car tonight to go to the ballgame?” To which Dad replies, “Sure Son, but did you take out the trash like I asked?” With head hung low the boy replies, “No Dad but I’ll do it right now.” “Well go do that then you can have the car.” Dad says. Sometimes we are waiting for God to do something for us when He has given us something to do first and our answer from Him is contingent on us doing our part. Why is that? Don’t worry about it. God knows what He’s doing, just do it. If you don’t know what it is you’re supposed to do, ask Him in prayer, then listen.

Do you remember several times when Jesus was performing miracles and helping people that He gave the people a command? To Peter who had asked Jesus if he could come to him on the water, Jesus said, “Come.”, (Matthew 14:29). To the man with the withered hand, He said, “Stretch out your hand.”, (Matthew 12:13). To the crippled man at the Pool of Bethesda, He said, “Get up. Take up your mat and walk.” (John 5:8). To the guy who was lowered down to Jesus through the roof He said, “I tell you, get up, take your mat, and go home.” (Mark 2:11). To the ten lepers He said, “Go an show yourselves to the priests.” (Luke 17:14). To a blind man, after putting spit and mud on his eyes, Jesus said, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.” (John 9:7). And even Peter at the Gate called Beautiful when he and John encountered the crippled man begging for money, said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazereth, walk. Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up..” (Acts 3:7-8). Do you get the picture?

God wants us to partner with Him to change our lives, the lives of those around us, and the world. Sometimes He does things instantly when it seems we have not done anything first but actually our faith or someone else’s faith has “done” it. “Be ye doers of the word and not hears only,” (James 1:22). Why do we not do what God wants? Fear, doubt, unbelief, not trusting, the unknown. Put all those things aside and do it. What do you need to DO today?

Trip Planning

February 19, 2012 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given February 11, 2012

Before we take a trip, say on vacation, we ususlly do some trip planning, right? We reserve a place to stay, get an idea of what to do when we get there, and plan the route. We want to know evrything and plan it all before we leave. We want to see everything ahead, know where we’re going, have the GPS programmed or the Mapquest directions printed off, all before we pull out of the driveway. Isn’t that right? But with Spiritual things, it doesn’t work that way.

The Bible says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7). God wants us to trust Him before and as we start out and have faith that He will direct our way. “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:6). God told Abraham to pick up, leave everything and go to a place He would show him later…and Abraham went without hesitation, (Genesis 12:1). Jesus asked Peter to step out of the boat and come to Him, and Peter did, (Matthew 14:29). These examples and more show that trusting God and what He says always works out whether we know everything about the situation or not. On the other hand, Jesus told the rich, young ruler, (Mattthew 19: 16-22), to sell all he had, give it to the poor, and come follow Him. But the guy had a lot of things and chose not to trust Jesus and step out in faith. What did he miss out on?

But you might say, “But it’s dark Lord, I can’t see where I’m going and I’m afraid.” My grandkids might say that so what does a loving pawpaw do? “Don’t worry kids.” “Come on, I’ll go with you. Give me your hand.” Is God asking you to step out of your comfort zone into the unknown? He’s standing there with His hand out saying, “Come on, I’ll go with you.” Take that first step.

Are You A Failure?

January 8, 2012 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given January 6, 2012

I was listening to Joyce Meyer on this day as I drove home from work and she made this statement that stuck with me, “You’re not a failure just because you failed.” And that’s right. We all fail, “..for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). Even if we don’t sin, we can and do fail at many things but that doesn’t make us a failure. What would make us a failure is to whine and complain how nothing ever goes our way and to not get up and try again; to quit and accept failure.

I began to think of some who failed but are not thought of as failures, in fact, they are famous for being successes. Look at the apostle Peter. One of Jesus’ inner circle who stated he would never deny Jesus but in the heat of the time, failed Him three times. Peter really blew it! But was that the end of it? No, for in Acts 5:15, “As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.” No failure here, Peter recovered and went on to carry out Jesus’ plan.

King David – He failed by not going to war like the cammander was supposed to, committing adultry with a neighbor, and having her husband killed. Now that is failing! But David admitted his sin, repented of it and went on to be successful although he suffered turmoil in his family. David is known as, “a man after God’s pwn heart.” (Acts 13:22).

Others who failed but were not failures: Thomas Edison reportedly failed 6000 times before perfecting the electric light bulb. Abraham Lincoln failed in business, lost jobs, had a nervous breakdown and lost in seven elections, once getting less than 100 votes. You could eaisly say he was a failure but he didn’t quit. After losing a US Senate race in 1858, he was elected President of the United States in 1860. Michael Jordan, one of the best basketball players ever, failed to make his high school team as a sophmore. That failure spured him on to not give up, work harder, and eventuall make the team and help lead that team to the state championship. He was pretty successful in college and the pros too.

What have you failed in? How many times have you failed at something? Are you ready to quit? Would God accept your resignation? No! “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11). God’s plan for you is success not failure. It’s up to YOU to get up, ask for God’s help, and get back in there. It’s not over, it’s not finished, It’s not ending, It’s only the beginning. When God is in it, all things are new. (Lyrics by Ricardo Sanchez).

What A Tragedy

September 20, 2011 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given September 20, 2011

Imagine this: Someone has just experienced a tragic loss; they’ve lost a loved one, ended a relationship, lost a job, lost something very valuable, had an accident, or got a serious disease. They can’t understand why God would allow this to happen to them. They are suffering and get so mad at God that they reject Jesus, renouncing Him as Lord and Savior. What a tragedy! Why does God allow things like this to happen? I suggest because He loves us. You think this is crazy, don’t you?

What about a coach who “allows” his players time in the weight room, hard practice drills, and exhausting activities accompanied by pain. Why does he make them go through all this? Could it be he wants them to improve their strength, skills, and abilities so they will have success later? Do you think that’s crazy?

I’m suggesting we all go through trials, loss, and pain. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). If we’re all going to suffer at times, wouldn’t it be better to trust God and see what we can learn in our trials; to be strengthened by the situation and stay faithful to Him? In our loss we can get closer to God and have His joy and peace, even without what we lost. Maybe we were putting too much emphasis on what we lost and God wanted to get us back in balance because He loves us and knows what would happen in the future if we continued the way we were going. “.. he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6).

Compared to eternity, we are only in this life for less than a second. Think about it…how tragic would it be for someone to get mad at God and give up eternity with Him because of a loss we suffered during that fraction of a second. And keep in mind that if we stay faithful and allow God to minister to us through the trial, when we get to Heaven, we’ll have no loss. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10). We’ll be healed, reunited with loved ones, and realize how insignificant the other things were. What a tragedy…giving up eternity with God because of a one second loss!

So, if you’re going through something right now, if you’ve suffered some tragic loss, ask God to show you how you can be “refined” as gold and come out much better on the other side. “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6-7).