Servant and Lord

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Apr 8, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 14.

NOT every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven." Matt. 7:21. To call one lord, implies that we are his servant; for "servant" and "lord" are opposite and complementary terms, the one presupposing the other. A lord is one who is served, a ruler, or governor, a provider. A servant is one who serves. His chief duty is to obey. There could be no lord without a servant; there could be no servant without a lord.

Therefore, when we call Jesus, Lord, we say that we are His servants. Our only duty is to do what He commands us. As Lord, He will provide the means and strength; as servants, we are to believe and obey. He commands us to repent and believe (Mark 1:15), and to keep God's commandments, which are His Father's will (Matt. 19:17; Ps. 40:8). Strength will ever be given to do this through faith. 1 John 5:3, 4; Gal. 5:6. Be not deceived; the true test of our relation to Christ and of our faith in Him, is doing, not professing; deeds, not words.

—✶✶—