Son Or Servant?

Given June 29, 2006
During my devotions this morning, I was thinking about the fact that I am a child of God, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: Romans 8:16", and also I'm to be a servant, "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: Hebrews 12:28".

I listened to some teaching recently about, "The Father", and am reminded that my relationship with my Heavenly Father is special. Many earthly father-son relationships are such that the son's relationship to the father is more of, "meet my needs and give me what I want and I'll be happy". Not, "Daddy, I love you. What can I do for you today?". But that's the way it should be with us and our Heavenly Father. We should come to him offering to be a servant or with the attitude of a servant. But, you know what He'll do? God will smile, take us up in His arms and say, "Son, you please me. What can I do for you?".

If we come to God with a servant's heart, even though we are His children, it pleases Him and He's more willing to shower us with blessings. I have four sons and they all are wonderful boys. But when they, "do everything right" and are willing to help me, it pleases me and I'm more willing to give them what they want. Another example is the story of the Prodigal Son, Luke 15, who took all that was his as a son, came to his senses, and returned willing to be a servant. That made all the difference.

I pray every day, "Father, how may I serve you today?". It's an attitude. I know I'm a son by birth but I CHOOSE to be a servant. That makes all the difference!