Dear Servant

Dear Servant,

            When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, they tried to hide themselves from me.  Sin has that effect, creating a barrier between me and my creation.  Knowing my goodness and then recognizing their sin, Adam and Eve not only saw the difference between good and evil, they also experienced shame.  The weight of shame caused them to try to separate from me and hide themselves. I knew the condition of their heart, as I know the condition of all human hearts.  They were not hidden from me, but they were separated in their heart by their sin. When you sin, you attempt the same thing.  You do not come to me out of embarrassment and shame.  You avoid prayer and spending time with me. 

Do not hide from me when you sin. Know that your advocate, my son, understands all you temptations and weaknesses.  He was tempted just like you and knows the lure of sin.  He never stops day or night in advocating for you and asking for forgiveness and mercy.  He is tireless in pleading your case.  Come to me and allow him to represent you.  Do not allow sin to keep us from the relationship you and I both so desperately want.

Your Advocate,  I AM

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Dear Servant,

            Have you read the story of my servant David and the counting of his army?  David had reigned for many years and had many victories.  He had seen me deliver from enemies like the Philistines and from enemies in his own household, like Absalom.  He knew that I delivered his life from Saul and placed the kingdom in his hands.  One day, however, he decides to count the number of men under his command.  Despite some good advice not to take such a census, he went forward anyway.  He learned that he was the leader of hundreds of thousands of strong men, but he also angered me.  In his haste to determine the strength and greatness of his kingdom, he forgot where that truly lay.  I was the one who delivered him and his country.  I was the one who overcame the enemy and I was the one who granted both victory and peace.  David repented when he realized what he had done, but he and the people still suffered at my angry hands. 

            What are you counting?  Your money? Your influence or importance? Your friends?  Have these things delivered you?  Do these things give peace, hope, life or joy?  Repent from your counting.  Turn to me and see that I alone am your provider, before you too fall into my angry hands.

All That Counts, I AM

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Dear Servant,

            I know you are tired and drained and feel like you cannot go on.  The problem is not the load you are under, but your source to fight the battle.  To fight spiritual battles you need spiritual energy.  You need the recharging that only comes from spending time with me, resting in me and being revived in my spirit.  Without that time you have nothing spiritual to give to those in need.  Sleep is good, your body needs it.  Exercising and eating right are good things.  I have placed my temple in your care and you should do those things. However, those will never replace time with me.  Why is spending this time necessary?  The only thing of spiritual worth you have to give to others is me.  Neither you nor all the wisdom of man is adequate.  I alone am enough.  Time with me spent in communion with my spirit, reading my word, praying to me and singing to me is the only way you have enough of my presence to share with others.

 Often you rest in me only long enough to catch your breath, and then you sprint away again.  Almost immediately you are worn out again.  You complain that the task is too great for you.  But it is not too great for you if you are resting in me. There is no substitute for time at my feet, for time spent leaning on me and spending time in my presence. 

Your Source, I AM

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Dear Servant,

I pronounce you guilty as charged.  On the charge of lies and deceit:  guilty.  On the charge of rebellion: guilty.  On the charge of worshipping false gods: guilty.  On the charge of pride: guilty.  On the charge of self righteousness: guilty. On the charge of gluttony: guilty.  On the charge of jealousy, envy and lust: guilty.  On the charge of hating your brother: guilty.  On the charge of blasphemy: guilty.

              I hereby sentence you, before the court of heaven, to life.  You will be remanded to the care and custody of my son for the sentence to be carried out.  He will provide you with life in himself.  He will enable you to live beyond your sinful ways.  You will no longer be subject to those lusts and human desires that lead you to sin; rather you will have freedom from all spiritual chains and prisons. You will be provided with peace, contentment and joy.   I personally will send my spirit to dwell within you so that you will always have a guide and teacher to lead you in the ways of goodness and mercy.  In fact, I myself will adopt you as my child.  You will never be separated or removed from me.  Forevermore, here and someday in heaven, you will have life in me.

Passing Sentence, I AM

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Dear Servant,

            All who face a crisis call out to me!  It does not matter if they claim to be an atheist or agnostic, a worshipper of trees or money, they will call to me.  When they face the day where their power is not enough and the illusion of control over their world is shattered, they will reach out to what is greater than they.  They will beg for help.  They will ask for deliverance.  They will promise anything to have me intervene in their crisis.  No matter what they have said about me before, no matter how many times they have taken my name in vain, in their need they cry out.  Though they do not fear me nor serve me, when the need is great enough, they will ask for my help.

            My children also cry to me when they face a crisis.  When hard times come to them they ask for me to intervene and to rescue them as well.  However, my children walk with me when the days are good.  They seek my advice on the daily matters of living that are simple and mundane.  They love and seek me even when they have no great need of help, but simply want to sit in my presence.  This is why they are my children, they live to know me and love me at all times.

            I in my sovereignty help those that I choose to help, whether they are my children or not. But my ear is attentive always to those who love me.

In your need, I AM

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Dear Servant,

          Have you been where my son went?  Have you followed him?  He went to the homes of the poor and the sick.  He touched those that no one else would dare.  Have you touched the person with cancer, AIDS or TB?  Have you been to the homes of the poor?  Have you stopped long enough there to realize not all their poverty comes from “laziness” or inability?  My son stopped long enough to love and minister to them.  Have you been to visit the rich?  It is hard to see past all the stuff they have, but if you look close you will see an empty heart crying out to know me. My son ate with them and loved them.  He loved them enough to tell them their riches would not fill their heart nor buy relationship with me.  Have you been to the city?  So many people are so pressed in and lost without hope.  My son wept for the lostness he saw in the city.  Have you wept for them?  Have you been to the country side?  My son went and taught those who were poor, uneducated, and simple.  Many gladly received him.  Have you been there?

          My son told his followers to “take up your cross and follow me”.  Have you been where he went?  Will you go?

Your Sender, I AM

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Dear Servant,

          I have noticed how they are displayed.  Often they are positioned in prominent places.  Pedestals and ornate details usually surround them.  Great care is taken to protect them from the elements or from those who would deface or steal them. They are moved carefully and held by willing hands. But even when well made by the craftsmen and well placed, they are still only an idol.  Whether wood, stone, ideology or money, they are still lifeless. In truth, it does not matter what you make into an idol they all have this in common: you must care for and protect it.  You must watch after it, keep others from defacing it or taking it.  You must be vigilant to carry it well so that no harm comes to it.  It demands your attention to protect it, but it cannot protect you.

          I commanded in my word that you should not make idols, of anything, even images representative of me.  Why?  I am the provider of shelter from the elements and I am the only one who can carry and sustain you.  I do not need defending, protecting or maintenance. Nothing I made comes close to my glory. Quit carrying your idols, allow me to carry you.

Carrying you, I AM

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Dear Servant;

Why do I tolerate you sinfulness and rebellion, your failure and your questioning?  Why do I continue to show you love and mercy which you never deserved?   Why I not make you do and be all that I desire of you?  Why not in my sovereignty “force” you to be all that you should be?

          When I sent my son to pay for your judgment, I did it so that you could be my child.  He offered himself, a perfect sacrifice, so that you could have life in me, and be adopted as my child.  I sacrificed him so that you could be called to me in love and respond to me with love.  So that we could walk together in developing the life you should have rather than the imitation that sin promises.  I wanted a child who chose to love, serve, grow and become more like me each day.  I did not want a puppet.  A toy that danced when commanded.  I did not want an empty shell that appeared to have life, but was instead hollow and lifeless.  I wanted someone who of their own free will, surrendered to my lead so that they could attempt to live that life of goodness and fullness in me.

          Yes, you are sinful and stubborn, prideful and rebellious.  However, you are my child and you continually return from your sin, repent and attempt again to grow in me.  You may be a problematic child, but you are my child.

No puppet master, I AM

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Dear Servant,

          I know that you are unworthy.  Do you think I do not see every sin that you commit and every stumbling step you take?  Do you forget that it is I who constantly watch your steps, send my spirit to guide you and pick you up every time you fall?  Was it not my son’s blood that paid for every one of those mistakes?  What does your “worthiness” have to do with anything?  If I choose to make you into a prophet to speak to the nations of my love and judgment, what does that have to do with your worthiness?  If I choose to make you a janitor, serving one of my houses of worship, keeping the place clean for those who will worship my name, what does that have to do with your worthiness?  I and I alone will determine your place to serve.  I alone am worthy and I alone will determine how and where you serve me.

          What part do you play in this?  Be my servant where ever I put you.  Honor my name and do your best.  When others praise your name, say “I am unworthy; God has done this for me.”

Worthy, I AM

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Dear Servant, 

          Do you remember when my son said, “I must be about my father’s business…”?  Do you realize that he was the most talented person that ever lived?  Without the destructiveness of sin on his mind and body, much less that he was fully divine, he could have done anything.   He could have been the world’s greatest composer, putting the music of heaven down on paper for all mankind to hear its beauty.  He could have painted the most beautiful pictures of people and nature, capturing every detail.  After all, he was my tool for creation, who would know it better?  He could have written masterpieces that people would have read time after time, never getting their fill of his words.  He could have sang, danced, lead armies, built cities, become wealthy in trade and a million other things.  But he did not choose to do any of those things.  Instead he chose to do my business.

          You have many talents.  I gave them to you. You have many opportunities.  I have allowed them to come your way.  It is not that those things are wrong or even bad.  I delight in your talents.  What father does not delight in seeing his children accomplish?  But what about my business?  Will you lay aside all you could be to become what I want you to be?  Will you honor the work of my kingdom first?  If you do so, I will honor all that you do. 

Your Father,  I AM

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