Servant for Life

Exodus 21: 5-6

5 “But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’ 6 then his master must take him before the judges.  He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.”

In biblical times, some people became indentured servants in order to pay off some sort of debt that they owed.  After a period of time, their period of servitude ended, their debt was paid, and they were free to go.  Some, however, chose to remain with their master and as a sign of this agreement their ear was pierced with an awl. 

I grew up in the church, but the faith that I thought I had was not mine, it was my mother’s and the faith of the church that I attended.  I was in the church involuntarily, serving involuntarily.

It was not until I was an adult that the faith became mine.  It is then that I voluntarily submitted myself to the Lord and began to serve with my whole heart.  I serve now from a spirit of love and not from a spirit of indebtedness.

In Psalm 100:2 we read that we are to “Serve the Lord with gladness.  Come before him with joyful songs.”  This joy of service is the sign of a servant of Christ.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)