FROM THE SERVANT GENERAL
OUR THEME FOR 2025
(Part 5)
HOLY SERVANTS AND WARRIORS
October 5, 2024
Today’s reading:
Job 42:1-3,5-6,12-16
Psalm 119:66,71,75,91,125,130
Luke 10:17-24
We in MFC are called to be God’s holy people, Jesus’ committed servants, and the Spirit’s warriors. These are all challenging roles, very difficult to fulfill. But as we see in today’s readings, God is the one who provides. We simply need to obey Him, follow His directions, and trust in His goodness and faithfulness.
Being God’s holy people
Job was a holy man, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil. Satan attacked him (allowed by God) and he lost everything, but he remained God-fearing and did not speak against God. We too, as we strive for holiness, will be assaulted by the enemy. At times we will be overwhelmed by woes and be in the depths of despair. But we need to endure in affliction and put our trust in God, in whom our hope abounds.
First, God can do all things and no purpose of His can be hindered (Jb 42:2). He is powerful, and even the powerful Satan cannot act against His people unless He allows it.
Second, God is able to restore, even more than what we have lost. Job got back from God double his wealth and God restored his family (Jb 42:12-15) as well as his social standing. He lived many more years, even seeing his great-grandchildren (Jb 42:16).
Third, because of his affliction, Job got to know God much better, who God truly was and is. He said, “By hearsay I had heard of you, but now my eye has seen you.” (Jb 42:5). We may think we already know God and His ways, but God wants us to enter more deeply in our life in Him, indeed to be like Christ himself. This should lead us to persevere in prayer.
In the call to holiness, we can truly rejoice in hope, as we look to God.
Being Jesus’ servants
Even as we are afflicted, we look to the good that can come out of our woes. “It was good for me to be afflicted, in order to learn your statutes.” (Ps 119:71). Accepted in the right way, our afflictions should lead to deeper appreciation of and dependence upon God’s word as we search for answers. We tap on to God’s mind as we trust in His word. “Teach me wisdom and knowledge, for in your commandments I trust.” (Ps 119:66). And because we can fully put our trust in a just God, then for us hope abounds. I know, Lord, that your judgments are righteous; though you afflict me, you are faithful.” (Ps 119:75). God helps us to endure in affliction.
We are to serve our Lord Jesus. As such, we need to put on his heart and mind and his ways. “I am your servant; give me discernment that I may know your testimonies.” (Ps 119:125). God’s word in the Bible gives us the instructions we need, as Jesus makes himself known, even to the little children. “The revelation of your words sheds light, gives understanding to the simple.” (Ps 119:130). Indeed, Jesus says of the Father, “although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.” (Lk 10:21). As humble servants, Jesus makes his will known to us. We look to the Bible as we persevere in prayer.
Being the Spirit’s warriors
When we serve Jesus and proclaim him to all, we engage in spiritual warfare, as the enemy will vehemently oppose and afflict us. But as holy warriors we tap on to God’s strength and power. The 72 sent out by Jesus returned exulting, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” (Lk 10:17). Jesus had empowered them for the fight (Lk 10:18-19).
Jesus provides what we need for the war we are engaged in. We can thus rejoice because, as Jesus says, “the spirits are subject to you,” and we more so rejoice “because your names are written in heaven.” (Lk 10:20). We look to Jesus and rejoice in hope.
Called to be holy, to be servants and warriors, we face daunting tasks. But we can confidently move forward, because God is always there for us, and in Him our hope abounds.
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