Gifts for Service

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:10-11

God gave us gifts for a reason — to serve one another.  They are not meant to puff us up, but they are meant to be used.  Whatever our gift, we have a responsibility to use it in ministry.  As this idea went around in my head, I thought about The Servant Song.

Written by Richard Gillard, an Anglican from New Zealand, this song began in 1977 when Richard jotted down v. 3 on a piece of paper. Returning from travels in Britain, Europe and Israel, he found it in his guitar-case. He completed the song, the original first line of vv. 1 and 6 being ‘Brother, let me be your servant.’  It became the most well-known of his compositions.  I hope you will love it as I do.

 

 

 

Servant Relationships

This song has been a favorite of mine for a long time. It reminds me of a quote from one of Martin Luther’s  earlier books, The Freedom of a Christian (1520). In it, he wrote,

“[A]s our heavenly Father has in Christ freely come to our aid, we also ought freely to help our neighbor through our body and its works, and each one should become as it were a Christ to the other that we may be Christs to one another “

Being a Servant

Brother, let me be your servant Let me be as Christ to you Pray that I may have the grace To let you be my servant, tooWe are pilgrims on a journey We are brothers on the road We are here to help each other Walk the mile and bear the load I will hold the Christlight for you In the night-time of your fear I will hold my hand out to you Speak the peace you long to hear I will weep when you are weeping When you laugh I’ll laugh with you I will share your joy and sorrow Till we’ve seen this journey through

When we sing to God in heaven We shall find such harmony Born of all we’ve known together Of Christ’s love and agonyBrother, let me be your servant Let me be as Christ to you Pray that I may have the grace To let you be my servant, too

© 1977 Scripture in Song

Beth Ann’s post reminded me of this song, which has been a favorite of mine for a long time. I’m sure you can go to you tube if you want to listen to it.  As part of the church, we are servants to one another and to others.  Once again I think, who wouldn’t want to be part of this?  Who wouldn’t want to have that kind of purpose and companionship?

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  John 13:34-35