A slave.

What is a slave? When I was in high school, we held an auction to have a freshman as a slave for a day. You would be bought by a senior and have to do his/her bidding for the day and carry their books and open their locker. It was humiliating but fun.

That only lasted a while since it became uncool to say the word "slave." Now, the only thing I even see that is close to slavery is on TV or in the movies. I hear that it still goes on around the world even today....but I find it difficult to imagine what it would be like to be a slave.

The brutality, the lack of freedom, no vacation, no trust. Day after day. Just work. Obey. No escape.

In Philipians, Paul refers to himself as a slave to Christ. That paints a different image than what I believe my Christianity tipically is lived in these United States.

Today we find Christians living out their faith more that they are ENTITLED to the throne than they are a SLAVE to Christ.

Let's compare what that looks like.

ENTITLED

Heir

Good should come to you

Do what you want

Get what you want

Serve when it is convenient

Listen when you want

Eat at the good house

Be served

Talk with only the other entitled ones

Live as though you are privileged

As opposed to...

SLAVE

Do what you are told

Don't ask

Don't complain

Obey

Eat among the poor

Listen to your master

Be ready to go

Live not for yourself

As I read the Bible, I continue to see that we need to trust that God has a plan for our lives and that we must serve Him completely....as a slave serves His master. Our Master is one that is worthy to be served. He will be fair, and he will not disappoint.

While it is true that we have inherited the Kingdom of Heaven, we still must serve our Lord until that time comes when we fully get to take part in it.

We must obey, we must listen, we must be ready to do His will. And when we do, we will more fully understand what it means to love, to hope, and to live.