Chaplain's Corner: Servant-hood Living

In I Peter 4:11, Peter writes to the churches in Turkey, “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.  If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever.  Amen.”  The word “minister” in this particular Scripture means servant-hood.  Servant-hood translates into doing Teshuvah, which is Hebrew for righteous acts and deeds.  By being servants to Christ we are glorifying His crucifixion and resurrection.  In James 2:14-15 it says, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but has not works?  Can faith save him?  If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food and one of you says to them, depart in peace, be warmed and filled, but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?  Thus also, faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

These images of Scripture bring into one’s mind a balance between faith and works. I meet numerous Christians daily who are trying to serve the Lord in various acts of righteous deeds.  A good example is Pilots for Christ providing mercy flights. It is glorious to see Christians performing deeds that reflect their faith in Christ Jesus.   I was greatly encouraged recently by the response of Pilots for Christ  chapters to the recent disaster in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and India and the other coasts that were affected by the tsunami on December 26, 2004.  I saw churches and chapters immediately respond to this disaster by providing the brothers and sisters that are naked and destitute of daily food by sending large quantities of support to those in need.  Many of the chapters that had few dollars to spare, sent large amounts of money to our brothers in India directed by Pastor Israel Caleb for victims in his village. My heart was greatly touched by the pictures that Pilots for Christ received from India showing our brothers and sisters ministering by their hands to disaster victims. This type of servant-hood brought us here in Florida  peace, joy and a new sense of righteousness in ministering to others. 

Malachi 3:10 says, “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, and there will be food in my store house, and try Me in this, says the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open  the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there would not even be room enough to receive it.”  The Board of Directors of the Florida chapter decided to send $3,000 to PCI headquarters in Virginia.  Not knowing where the money would come from, our meeting on the second Saturday of January took an offering of $4,850 which paid for all contributions to the India chapter and as Scripture says, “poured out a blessing upon us that we couldn’t begin to understand or receive.”

 May Christ Jesus bless you and may you continue to serve Him with a cheerful, enthusiastic and giving heart. 

Dr. Bob Lehton
Florida Chaplain