Today I was reading in Luke 1 and was suddenly very challenged by a phrase in verse 2 that I’d read many times but had never struck me before. ‘Just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eye-witnesses and servants of the word.’
‘Servants of the word.’ I couldn’t get away from that phrase. Subconsciously, I’d maybe been reading it as, ‘servants of the Lord,’ but it was ‘word’ not Lord. And yet, of course, the Lord IS the Living Word, so to be a ‘servant of the word’ actually means to be a servant of the Lord. How awesome!
As I stayed with that phrase, ‘servant of the word’ it was as if the Lord was revealing to me his longing that we all have the same passion for his word that those original eye-witnesses of Jesus had. I remembered that during the transfiguration when they heard the voice of God in that awesome moment when Jesus was transfigured before them, God said This is my beloved Son, listen to him’. With that exhortation God revealed that he was calling them to be a people who loved his word and loved listening to him. A people who would treasure what he said and the written word of Scripture, taking it into their hearts as the powerful, life giving word of God. I felt a deep challenge in my own heart: ‘How much do I have a heart that serves your Word, Lord?’ I asked. I know I am so easily distracted away from the promises of his word. But I long to have that deep passion and to make the time to listen to him every day. I thought how a true servant holds in high esteem the one he is serving. God was saying to me, I want you to be someone who serves and takes care of my Word, who holds it in the highest esteem; who will do everything to protect it and make it known; who will speak it out, worship through it and declare it in power through prayer and praise.’
In Genesis 1, God spoke saying ‘Let there be. . .’ and with each word life came into being. Beauty and majesty were formed, and you and I were created in God’s image. All with a Word.
Prayer O Lord I long to be a servant of your word. Set my heart on fire for you and your word dear Lord. Let it be the first thing in my thoughts and in my heart, especially in those moments when I am facing hard things and need a rock to stand on. Only you can make me a servant of your word in that way but I pray that by your Spirit you will do that Lord. In Jesus name, the Living Word, Amen
