Bond Servant of Jesus

Bible Reading

• Exodus 22-23
• Mark 8
• Proverbs 17

Prayer Devotional

I am intrigued by the concept of the bond servant in the Old Testament. A slave who would enjoy serving his master so much that he would willingly submit to being a slave to his master the rest of his life (Exodus 21:6). Of course, there was a little incentive if the master gave him a wife, and they had children. Going free would be to leave them behind (Exodus 21:4). But, the point is, because of the relationship, and the care of his master, he willingly submitted to continuing to serve the master.  

In Mark 8:34-35 Jesus says, ““If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.” Jesus says, it is only when we “lose our life,” that we will find it. It is only when we willing submit to serving our master for the rest of our life, that we find life fulfilling and satisfying in Him.

Do you find your satisfaction in serving your master? At church yesterday, pastor talked about our chief purpose being to “Enjoy God and Glorify Him forever.” What distracts us from enjoying our master? What keeps us from glorifying Him? 

• God warned the Israelites and told them not to allow the Canaanites to dwell among them, “lest they make you sin against me.” (Ex 23:33) How is the world influencing your devotion to Christ? 

• Jesus said of Peter, in his zeal to protect Jesus from the cross, “You are not setting your mind on the things of God, but things of man.” (Mark 8:33). What are you setting your mind on? 

I pray that _____ will fall in love with you. That as they meditate on your great love and care for them that they will long to serve you with their life. That there service will be like Jacob who served Laban for 7 years, but it was to him like a day (Gen 29:20).

I pray _____ will be willing to deny themselves today. I pray they will truly desire to be your bond servant today. As you test their heart today, may you find their devotion to be genuine (Prov 17:3). I pray that you will bless their sacrifice and service for you today.

I pray for ______ that the things of this world, and the attraction of success would not become a snare to them today (Ex 23:33). I pray you will keep them from setting their mind on the things of men (Mark 8:33). Help them today to set their mind on you and the things of God today (Rom 8:5). May there never be a need to confront them on foolishness (Prov 17:12). May they set their minds on things above (Matt 6:20-21). May they seek you first, above everything else (Matt 6:33)!