Servant Song

Some of us were born into families that loved and served the Lord and so came to know Him at a very early age. Or, perhaps as teenagers we were looking for a strong anchor in the turbulent waters that are adolescence, and found the One that can calm even those troubled waters! Maybe, as young adults when our babies began to be born, we realized we'd need all the help we could get to rear them and turned to the church. If so, those babies served as "tiny evangelists" helping to bring their family to the fold. Then there are probably those of us who, suffering some terrible ordeal in adulthood, knew we couldn't get through it with our strength alone, and turned to the One, who can lift any burden.

But, whether we were a toddler or a grandparent when we came to love and serve the Lord, each are equally precious to Him. Jesus made this perfectly plain in the parable of the vineyard workers. The master of the vineyard went out at first light to hire workers and contracted with them for a very fair wage of 1 denarii for that day's labor. He went out again at 9:00, 12:00, 3:00 and even when the day was almost over, hiring workers at each of these hours. At the end of the day (at the end of our days) all were equally rewarded. So, we show up for work at different times, and those who serve Him are of all kinds- age, race, status, gender, it doesn't matter to the Lord. God is undoubtedly the oldest and largest of the "equal opportunity employers." And the perks and "retirement plan" that go with working for Him are "out of this world."

Psalm 148.11-12 - The kings and all the people, with their rulers and their judges, young men and maidens, old men and children - all praise the Lord together.

Galatians 3.28 - We are no longer Jews or Greek or slaves or free men, or even merely men or women, but we are all the same - we are Christians.

Colossians 3.11 - In this new life one's nationality or race, or education or social position is unimportant, such things mean nothing. Whether a person has Christ is what matters, and he is equally available to all.

Isaiah 56.6,7-8 - As for the Gentiles, the outsiders who joined the people of the Lord and serve him and love his name and his servants, and have accepted his covenant and his promises, I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem. I will accept their sacrifices and offerings, for my Temple shall be called "A House of Prayer for All People."

John 12.26 - If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

1 Corinthians 3.9 - There is no difference in the man who plants and the man who waters; God will reward each according to the work he has done. For we are partners working together for God.

Matthew 9.37 - The harvest is great and the workers are so few, he told his disciples. So pray to the one in charge of the harvesting, and ask him to recruit more workers for his harvest fields.

John 9.4 - All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent me, for there is little time left before the night falls and all work comes to an end.

Galatians 6.9 - Let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing, if we don't get discouraged and give up.

2 Timothy 2.12 - If we think that our present service is hard, just remember that someday we are going to sit with him and rule with him.

Ephesians 1.10 - When the time is ripe, he will gather us all together from wherever we are, to be with him in Christ, forever.

1 Peter 1.4-5 - God has reserved for his children the priceless gift of eternal life; it is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And God in his mighty power, will make sure that you get there to receive it.