Servant of God?

[MaryTeresa2]

Dear DPMartin,

Forgive me, I’m sorry to not quite understand your question.

One question though. Does the Presence of God make the servant of God?

Does the Presence of God make… someone to be His servant? Again, I am just missing the drift of the question. It’s ok, you don’t need to bother if you are on track with the others who are posting, I’ll just listen.

I was just interested in the subject and you see, I’m a Servant of Mary… the Servite Order… we consider ourselves to be servants of God, in the way Mary was… and servants to all in general. Sometimes someone will ask if we serve Mary… yet it is not in that way… another entire subject… I just was picking up on the servant thing and trying to follow your discussion but lost the meaning of the question… sorry.

Oh I went back to an early post to try to catch up with things…

Does one seek leadership by expressing the knowledge of their idea of God? Or does one point to the fulfillment of God’s Will for mankind in Christ Jesus? In the serving of God.

I’ll take this question because I think I get it… maybe… the first part, seeking leadership? Humm, no I have never had such a thought??? confused again…
The middle question… I say yes, the fulfillment of God’s Will for mankind comes in Jesus. Such as OT prophesy is fulfilled in the NT by Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection. Third part of question… is that why one would serve God??? Or is that why Jesus served God’s Will???

Again, it’s ok if I don’t get the question, someone will answer so I’ll read along.

May the Peace of Our Lord Jesus be with you,
Your Sister in Christ,
Mary Teresa, OSSM

 

[CatholicFireman]

Greetings, MaryTeresa2

I was wondering if there is a chapter anyplace in the US other than the Chicago area?

Pax†

 

[davidv]

David

thanks for the reply

Mark 12:
26: And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
27: He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.

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Mt:19:29: And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

Mt:25:34: Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

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What would make you think that Abraham is not to experience the fulfillment of God’s Word to him?

Did here occupy the promised land? No.
Did he see his family become a great nation? No.
Did he see world wide blessing through him? No.

That is why.

Mt:8:11: And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

---

Of a truth, we can not of our own will, go where God is, but God of His Will can go where we are, that we might be with Him. No one nor nothing can defeat God, not His Word, not His Presence, even in man. Hence the Word of God in the Presence of God given, in the Son of Man. Our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[DPMartin]

Did here occupy the promised land? No.
Did he see his family become a great nation? No.
Did he see world wide blessing through him? No.

That is why.

David
thanks for the reply

Look my friend in Christ I seek only to enquire of the truth, in the subject of what qualifies a servant of God before God. Or that the Almighty would recognize that some one is His servant, and reward him accordingly. As in inherit eternal Life and to be accepted in to the Kingdom of God. And the Lord’s Judgement of whether Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, are servants of God, in accordance to the fulfillment of His Word seems clear, in His statement of where they shall be in relationship to the inheritance of Eternal Life and their Presence in God’s Kingdom that has no end.

I seek not to dispute, nor victory in debate.

It seems my friend that we don’t really have a conveyable clear view, in the Lord’s view, of what He sees what a servant of God is.

It seems to me that it requires the evidence that God is with His servant, in order for others to recognize a Servant of God. And in that evidence does God affirm His servant, to be His servant.

Even in the history of the Church, the legends that surround Gregory the Great, for example, are evidence that those who witnessed these things, that this was God’s servant.

 

[MaryTeresa2]

Can we little ‘non-famous’ people be servants of God? I know of many in Scripture who seem to be servants of God. Many served the purposes set before them by God. Many have been faithful to His Will to the point of death. Are they His servants? When I dedicate my life to serving His Will for me, am I His servant? What qualifies one to be His servant? Are we first qualified or do we gain qualification after our service?

 

[DPMartin]

Can we little ‘non-famous’ people be servants of God? I know of many in Scripture who seem to be servants of God. Many served the purposes set before them by God. Many have been faithful to His Will to the point of death. Are they His servants? When I dedicate my life to serving His Will for me, am I His servant? What qualifies one to be His servant? Are we first qualified or do we gain qualification after our service?

MaryTeresa2

Thanks for the reply

There are carpenters and there are brick layers, though different in calling and duty, but both work toward the same result. The building of the house. In our case it is the building of the household of the Lord God in His Name. Not unto any other name. Therefore when the carpenter or brick layer need understanding of the blue prints they read, they seek the Master Builder for answer, for it is given Him charge of the building thereof. All workers great and small agree, that the Master builder knows the answer, in service to the Master plan of the household, for the Master is the interpretation thereof…

Even brick layers need those who mix mortar in order to be productive. Therefore, all who work receive accordingly. But be wise in this. Those who follow their interpretation build a house for another name other then Jesus Christ of Nazareth, in order that others may be like them, instead of being like Christ. Valuing there own household, in their name, instead of the Lord’s household in His Name. Jesus is the interpretation and fulfillment of the inheritance of eternal Life in God’s Kingdom.

 

[DPMartin]

MaryTeresa2

If I may add,

It’s not about what you die for, it’s about what you live for. Which is what God sees in the hearts of mankind. The demise of one’s body is something unavoidable. One is not judged because of death. One is Judged by God because one has lived, and God gave the experience of living. Therefore what does one live for, the Kingdom of God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Or something else.

To submit and rejoice in the fulfillment of God’s Word is Life, to be against, is otherwise.

 

[MaryTeresa2]

Dear DPM,

Thank you for the last couple of paragraphs you wrote. I understand what you are saying there, just was trying to feel out the jist… I think we miss each other’s meanings like ships in the night, totally by accident, not that we are doing it intentionally…

I was asking those questions as rhetorical questions actually trying to pull more out of your responses as to what the thread is about. I seriously was trying to get the jist of who, why, what was the question about… Servant of God? I wonder still if you are asking who are servants of God? What does it take to be a servant of God? And so on… because I can’t find enough postings on here that follow that theme… something about what qualifies one as a servant of God was mentioned. Anyway…

I have no disagreement with your thoughts, I just somehow can’t cut through the meaning enough to actually address the original question or to really get a feel for what you were wanting to say. I feel I know what it means to be a servant of God, as I’ve stated in some previoius posts and I’m happy to be one who is serving God. I hope you are also a happy servant of God.

Maybe you were talking about servants in the OT or meanings put to that phrase. Again, I’ll bow out here, I was attracted to the title as I am a Servite in the OSSM and wanted to see what was being talked about here. I’m just having a hard time following so it’s not your fault, it’s mine. I hope some of the other posters return to continue so I can enjoy reading and understanding more as you speak back and forth. I apologize for being a little lost. I’m sure you know how it is if people have a different notion about what a thread is about… that’s just my lack and all I was trying to ask. No worries!

Wishing you many blessings of peace and joy!

In the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary

 

[davidv]

David
thanks for the reply

Look my friend in Christ I seek only to enquire of the truth, in the subject of what qualifies a servant of God before God. Or that the Almighty would recognize that some one is His servant, and reward him accordingly. As in inherit eternal Life and to be accepted in to the Kingdom of God. And the Lord’s Judgement of whether Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, are servants of God, in accordance to the fulfillment of His Word seems clear, in His statement of where they shall be in relationship to the inheritance of Eternal Life and their Presence in God’s Kingdom that has no end.

I seek not to dispute, nor victory in debate.

It seems my friend that we don’t really have a conveyable clear view, in the Lord’s view, of what He sees what a servant of God is.

I believe that any lack of clarity you see is directly related to your unwillingness to provide the clarification asked for in post #12.

It seems to me that it requires the evidence that God is with His servant, in order for others to recognize a Servant of God. And in that evidence does God affirm His servant, to be His servant.

Even in the history of the Church, the legends that surround Gregory the Great, for example, are evidence that those who witnessed these things, that this was God’s servant.

 

[MaryTeresa2]

Maybe we don’t have a one size fits all definition of a servant of God… perhaps God didn’t lay out a qualification list for how to be His servant… and does it matter if other people recognize me as a servant of God?

I still go back to saying that when one prays and discerns the path God is putting before him, and does what God bids him do… then he is serving God, or is a servant of God.

If others recognize that or not is of no consequence what so ever as to the validity of the service. If others recognize that you are glorifying God and hence evangelizing the Gospel… of course that is one of the purposes for serving.

Someone please chime in here, am I saying something that makes sense?

 

[DPMartin]

I believe that any lack of clarity you see is directly related to your unwillingness to provide the clarification asked for in post #12.

David

thanks for the reply

The promise fulfilled was not for, or to the satisfaction of Abraham. the promise was fulfilled to God the Father’s satisfaction of which the Lord God said to Abraham:

Gen:15:1: After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Abram was not his own reward. Abram was first born from Adam 20 generations. Of which the world around him at the time was well aware of. It would be easy for Abram to think he would be his own reward. Just like anyone who would think they had right to self fulfillment. Who would have more right then he, in his day? He even presented to God his difficulty with the need of a son of his own, for he was satisfied in all other things.

That which is of God is acceptable to God and that which is not, is not acceptable; for surly God would accept that which is of Himself. Therefore God’s Word is satisfactory to God for it is of God. And those not satisfied with God’s Word given, that it is to be fulfilled to God the Father’s satisfaction, shall not receive of God to be of God that they would be acceptable unto Him to be received of Him. Therefore God’s Word to Abraham is fulfilled in Christ Jesus according to God the Father’s satisfaction. Jesus is the restoration of what God gave man, the Presence of His Word in the world (human existence).

Therefore a servant of God does expect the world nor his brother to meet his satisfaction, for a servant of God is satisfied in God the Father’s satisfaction of the fulfillment of His Word in Christ Jesus.

 

[DPMartin]

Maybe we don’t have a one size fits all definition of a servant of God… perhaps God didn’t lay out a qualification list for how to be His servant… and does it matter if other people recognize me as a servant of God?

I still go back to saying that when one prays and discerns the path God is putting before him, and does what God bids him do… then he is serving God, or is a servant of God.

If others recognize that or not is of no consequence what so ever as to the validity of the service. If others recognize that you are glorifying God and hence evangelizing the Gospel… of course that is one of the purposes for serving.

Someone please chime in here, am I saying something that makes sense?

MaryTeresa2

thanks for the reply

If you ever have noticed, species of birds or at the lest most animals recognize there own kind. They don’t seek to breed with on another nor do they communicate across species unless one threatens there own kind. How is it that a dove recognizes a dove unless it is a dove, recognizing it’s own kind.

I believe servants of God can recognize servants of God (there own kind). It was the Apostles that recognized Paul who once was a persecutor of the Saints, was now also a Saint called and chosen by the Lord. Of which the Saints recognized, no matter the vocation given Paul.

 

[MaryTeresa2]

MaryTeresa2

thanks for the reply

If you ever have noticed, species of birds or at the lest most animals recognize there own kind. They don’t seek to breed with on another nor do they communicate across species unless one threatens there own kind. How is it that a dove recognizes a dove unless it is a dove, recognizing it’s own kind.

I believe servants of God can recognize servants of God (there own kind). It was the Apostles that recognized Paul who once was a persecutor of the Saints, was now also a Saint called and chosen by the Lord. Of which the Saints recognized, no matter the vocation given Paul.

I agree with you. In most cases one can recognize another of one’s own sort. Does it mean anyone who serves God will recognize anyone else who does the same? Perhaps, if one is given the power of discernment by the Spirit. Perhaps not… a person can just be going along and not recognize Jesus in every other person they encounter, let alone recognize that other(s) to be one serving God in their lives.

Paul was going about persecuting the very name of Jesus and his followers… The Spirit blinded him on the road to Damascus, left him stuck down and Jesus spoke to him… He was converted and began to proclaim the Gospel! Surely his dramatic change was well recognized!

Will we all be recognized as servers of God? We should aim to be, that’s what part of our mission is, to be Christ’s light, not hidden under a basket! To go and live the Gospel, preach the Gospel… and in the words of St. Francis… use words if you have to…

As Christians we are called to witness to Christ, to love and serve the Lord. We should be easy to recognize. Yet can I say that is always true? Is all of our witness that easily recognized? Will the other party have the eyes to see our witness? At once? Or over time?

And is being recognized essential to carrying on with the mission? Does recognition make the service valid?

Many serve God in complete isolation and yet they still serve. Many are the unrecognized servants of God.

Just some thoughts on recognition, since it came up…

 

[DPMartin]

I agree with you. In most cases one can recognize another of one’s own sort. Does it mean anyone who serves God will recognize anyone else who does the same? Perhaps, if one is given the power of discernment by the Spirit. Perhaps not… a person can just be going along and not recognize Jesus in every other person they encounter, let alone recognize that other(s) to be one serving God in their lives.

Paul was going about persecuting the very name of Jesus and his followers… The Spirit blinded him on the road to Damascus, left him stuck down and Jesus spoke to him… He was converted and began to proclaim the Gospel! Surely his dramatic change was well recognized!

Will we all be recognized as servers of God? We should aim to be, that’s what part of our mission is, to be Christ’s light, not hidden under a basket! To go and live the Gospel, preach the Gospel… and in the words of St. Francis… use words if you have to…

As Christians we are called to witness to Christ, to love and serve the Lord. We should be easy to recognize. Yet can I say that is always true? Is all of our witness that easily recognized? Will the other party have the eyes to see our witness? At once? Or over time?

And is being recognized essential to carrying on with the mission? Does recognition make the service valid?

Many serve God in complete isolation and yet they still serve. Many are the unrecognized servants of God.

Just some thoughts on recognition, since it came up…

MaryTeresa2

thanks for the reply

I believe it has a lot to do with, who’s recognition does one seek? Once Paul was recognized by the Apostles that he, Paul was of the ministry of Grace then they welcomed Paul’s participation in the spreading of the Gospel through out the world (mainly Gentiles). But I do believe this was something Paul was doing before being presented before the Apostles. Hence truly God was Paul’s witness that Paul was of and in the service unto the Lord Jesus.

When reading Paul’s writings the theme of Power (meaning God’s Power) always seems to come through. It was by the Power of God’s Presence with Paul that made Paul who and what Paul is. Therefore witnessed that Paul was with the Lord Jesus.

Without God’s recognition of you, how would you even be accepted in to the Kingdom of Heaven?

Yes many may not be recognized in what may be considered the traditional sense, but does the Father recognize you through His Son in His Holy Spirit? And if so, then the rest is according what God sees fit for you. For if He be content and pleased, then shouldn’t that be good?