Jehoida

by Tiffany S.
from Virtuous Daughters, August 2015~Volume 15, Number 5

Dearest Sisters,

“...Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe He is precious...” 1 Peter 2:6-7 Greetings in Christ, my sweet friends! I pray this letter finds you rejoicing in the greatness of our God and praising Him for the truly precious Savior we serve.

…I was eagerly anticipating this issue’s topic, “A Joyful Servant’s Heart,” as the call to serve the Lord is one which He has deeply impressed upon my life. Isaiah 49-50 are beautiful passages to me, outlining a servant’s call and obedience. Although I believe these are prophecies of our Lord Jesus, are we not admonished to walk in His steps?! What a beautiful example He has set before us. “And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to mnister, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:27-28

Isaiah 49:1-3 says, “...The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath He made mention of my name. And He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand hath He hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in His quiver hath He hid me; and said unto me, Thou art My servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” These verses serve as a beautiful reminder that the Lord’s purpose for our lives is pre-determined before birth! And in many cases, He has ordained that our lives—either for a season or a lifetime—involve being “hidden” in the shadow of His hand. We should never be deceived into thinking that we cannot effectively fulfill God’s purpose for our lives when serving Him in “small” ways. Rather, this heart of humility and faith is being prepared to accomplish even greater things for His glory. Furthermore, the impact the Lord has on others through a joyful servant cannot be overestimated.

Let me give you a couple examples from Scripture that have greatly challenged me~


~Jehoiada~    

Here is a picture of a truly humble man. His dear wife had, through God’s loving grace and mercy, managed to save baby Joash from his wicked grandmother’s murderous schemes. For six years, this young king stayed in the house of God, where Jehoiada served as a priest. From Scripture, we can infer that Jehoiada was faithful to train the child in the Lord’s ways.

Jehoiada was a man who treasured the things which God treasured, which tells us that as he served the young boy, he knew he was ultimately serving the Lord Himself. When the time was right, Jehoiada boldly declared Joash to be the next king, “as the Lord hath said...” He then took meticulous efforts to protect the seven-year-old king during his first public appearance. Jehoiada would later lead Joash in covenanting that the king’s subjects would be the Lord’s people and destroy all Baal worship.   

Jehoiada continually supported the young king, offering wise counsel and godly direction for his leadership position. 2 Chronicles 24:2 tells us that “Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.” It was during Jehoiada’s lifetime that perpetual burnt offerings were offered to the Lord. At age 130, Jehoaida died “full of days.”

Clearly, this man of God was an “unsung hero,” quietly standing behind King Joash, helping to guide the young leader into paths of righteousness. He was a beautiful picture of a living sacrifice, serving as a behind-the-scenes hero to a young boy and to the country of Israel. He and his wife raised this child physically and spiritually and then he continued to work alongside him in his royal position. Instead of muttering, “I’ve been doing the hard part; when will I get a little more recognition? Where’s my gold crown?” Jehoiada was content to fill the place that God had ordained for him. He knew that he was ultimately serving Almighty God and rested in the truth that God saw his faithfulness. “And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house.” (2 Chronicles 24:16)

Maybe he wasn’t noticed by all the world as King Joash was, but in addition to being buried among the kings (a tremendous honor), his epitaph was that he had done good toward the Lord and toward his house. God saw and honored that. 2 Chronicles 24:14 says that Jehoiada waxed old and was full of days when he died. Our pastor explained that “full of days” means living a full life—accomplishing all that God intended. Living a full life is not about the number of days we walk the earth, but about whether or not we were faithful to do all the Lord had ordained for us to do during that time frame. (See John 17:4.) Jehoiadia was, and we long to be also, by God’s grace. What an encouragement is this man’s testimony! As I first studied his life, I prayed, “Oh, Lord, make me a Jehoiada!” Ever so gently, the Lord reminded me, “That is what I am working to do; will you be faithful? Will you trust Me? Will you humbly surrender your will to Mine? Will you serve Me in the way I ordain? Will you look to Me as your full reward? Will you keep your eyes on My face and follow Me wholeheartedly?” 

There may be temptation to compare ourselves to others, to consider our work too insignificant, or to draw out our own plans of how we would like to serve the Lord. Certainly, Jehoiada could have forsaken his calling for any of these selfish ambitions—but that would have been stepping out of God’s will. Any time we reject God’s plan (which is infinitely higher than our own), consequences will follow. If Jehoiada had neglected his responsibilities...because others he knew held more prestigious positions...or because it seemed belittling as a grown man to be assisting a young king...or because he had already decided he wanted to serve the Lord in a different capacity (regardless of what other feats he might have accomplished with such efforts), he could not have fulfilled all that God intended for him. He would not have died “full of days.” He would not have done good in Israel both toward God and toward his house. He would not have enabled Joash to do that which was right in the Lord’s sight all the days of his (Jehoiada’s) life. It is improbable that Jehoiada could have known what the consequences of pride, envy, discontent, or rebellion would have been, but how grateful we are—and what glory God received!—because this man chose to honor the Lord and walk by faith, not sight. We see no trace of pride, selfishness, or willfulness as he joyfully and humbly embraced what was precious in the sight of the Lord. Because of this, he was blessed, honored, fulfilled, and reaped eternal rewards.  

As I ponder these lessons from Jehoiada’s life, my mind goes to another dear saint whose example refreshes my heart in the journey of service...


~Mary of Bethany~    

“And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on His head. And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.” (Mark 14:3-5)

You precious sisters, who have made counter-cultural decisions based on biblical principles and clear direction from the Lord, does this sound familiar to your ears? As you have broken and poured out your life for the Lord through humble service, have there been those murmuring—perhaps even indignant—ones who have wondered at your “waste”? Have they proposed more “effective” (and perhaps even more “spiritual sounding”) ways to spend your life?

“And Jesus said”--What refreshing words! What Jesus says is truly all that matters. His voice is powerful, full of majesty, and it is for His praise alone that we live. It is His voice which will say in eternity, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: enter into the joy of thy Lord.” Shutting out the lies of the world, the flesh, and the devil, let us be still and hear what Jesus said...

“And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on Me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but Me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint My body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.” 

Jesus said she had done a good work—she had done what she could, and she had done it for Jesus Himself. Who we are serving makes all the difference. Rather than condemning Mary, the Lord commended her and said it would always be a memorial. Our Father delights in a servant’s heart, especially one that is fixed on Jesus alone.  



Maybe there are some of you sweet sisters who are currently being called to Jehoiada’s role...quietly standing behind your parents, your siblings, or someone else, in an effort to strengthen them in the work God has given them. Or maybe you are called to Mary’s role...emptying yourself for the Lord in ways that the world disdains. Maybe the world would say there are greater, more effective ways to spend your life. But the praise of God is eternal, and as Christians we delight in living for His praise. In Luke 16:15, Christ warned us against justifying ourselves in the sight of men, because “God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” While man looks at the type of service, God looks at WHO we are serving. If we are truly serving Him, we will be doing the type of service HE ordains because we will be sensitive to His leading and delight in doing what He calls us to do! Giving a cup of cold water in His name is promised a prophet’s reward!! If our broken and spilled out life is a sweet fragrance to Him, well then, why would we invest it any other way? If a meek servant’s heart is beautiful to Him, why would we belittle such priceless opportunities to delight the heart of God?! If a mere donkey was preserved for the Lord Jesus’ use, how much more beautiful to our God is a human life lived exclusively for Christ alone? What an amazing privilege has been granted to us, that others could say, “She is a servant of the Lord Jesus. The Lord has need of her life.” (See Luke 19:30-31.)

Back to gleanings from Isaiah 49. Sometimes devoted servants of the Lord express feelings of weariness, wondering if their efforts are in vain. Verse 4 addresses this: “Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.” We must remember two key truths~

1) Our judgment is with the Lord. God is our Judge and He is a righteous Judge. Jesus Christ committed Himself to His Father during His earthly service (1 Peter 2:23); should we not do the same? We should walk in obedience to what He has called us and then leave all results in His hands, Who is the One truly working through us. We should live for His praise alone because He is the One Who has called us and it is to Him we will someday give an account. 

Sometimes we are called to serve the Lord in large, far-reaching ways; other times He gives to us assignments which might seem lowly, but they are never beneath us. Listen to the Word of our Judge: “For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.” (Zechariah 4:10) The Lord lovingly reminds us, “I do not despise small things. Yes, I have called some to greater things, but what is that to thee? Follow thou Me. Remain faithful. My eyes run through the whole earth—I see you and I will show Myself strong on your behalf. I have called you in righteousness. Do not despise small things, for they are great in My sight.”

(A Little “Inside Scoop”~my ssiter and I have chosen for our work clothes, t-shirts that say “Beautiful to God.” When we are working outside or doing intense physical labor, it’s a good reminder that amidst sweat, frizzy hair, and dirty fingernails, we are beautiful to the Lord because we are serving Him! :)) 

2) Our work is with the Lord. Truly, we must look to Christ as our full reward (Hebrews 6:10-12, Ruth 2:12, and Psalm 16:11). For me, weariness sets in when I begin serving myself instead of my Lord Jesus. That might sound impossible, but it is sadly common among Christians. Our heart motive is crucial! Though outwardly we are exhibiting anything but selfishness, sometimes we begin ultimately serving ourselves, expecting our idea of a reward instead of looking to Jesus as our Full Reward. If our eyes are on the wrong goal, we will be disappointed and feel that our service is in vain. But the Scriptures tell us to fix our eyes on the Savior (Hebrews 12:1-3), to not be weary in well doing (Galatians 6:9), and to remember Who we are serving (Isaiah 49:4, Colossians 3:23, Ephesians 6:6). What is our motivation for serving the Lord? Because we love Him!! And we love Him because He loved us first (1 John 4:19, Romans 5:8). 

Lest we forget, Isaiah 49:15-16,23 reminds us: “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands...they shall not be ashamed that wait for Me.” Isaiah 44:21 echoes this promise to the Lord’s servant: “...I have formed thee; thou art My servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of Me.” 

How could the Lord forget His servant? It is impossible. He did not forget Jehoiada, He did not forget Mary, and He has not forgotten you. His eyes are upon the righteous and His ears are open unto their cry (Psalm 34:15). May we delight in doing the Lord’s will (Psalm 40:8) and serve Him diligently in the way He has ordained for our lives. He is our shield and exceeding great reward (Genesis 15:1), both now and through all eternity! “Oh how great is Thy goodness, which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee; which Thou hast wrought for them that trust in Thee before the sons of men!”--Psalm 31:19 “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”--Psalm 37:11

Essentially, these two key elements of joyful Christian service bring us back to the foundation: we serve in the strength of the Lord. Without Him, we can do nothing! 1 Corinthians 7:24 exhorts, “Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.” As my pastor has pointed out, we must abide in our calling with God. The moment we stop depending on His strength and grace and the power of the Holy Spirit to perform His will in our lives, we will falter. As one friend recently shared, the greatest weapon against discouragement and defeat is to “Seek the LORD and His strength, seek His face continually” (1 Chronicles 16:11), because the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. We must daily seek the face of God for strength and victory to walk in faithfulness to Him and to serve Him effectively. As we do this, our labor is NOT in vain in the Lord!

Does serving the Lord bring joy? Absolutely! The Lord has poured abundant mercy and love into our lives and it is refreshing to be able to share it with others. Christ said we would be happy (in the original, this means “supremely blessed”) as we follow His example of humble service (John 13:17). As we fix our eyes on Christ, serving out of His strength and out of abundantly grateful hearts, we find ourselves fulfilled and joyful in His beautiful calling on our lives.  

First John 3:16-18 challenges us “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” My friends, we are to lay down our lives for others out of gratefulness for God doing this for us! May every fiber of our being capitalize on opportunities to serve Him by reaching out to others, showing compassion, and reflecting the love of our Savior. May we fulfill our purpose, according to Revelation 4:11: “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.” As we seek to serve Him in the ways He has ordained, may we live a life that accomplishes all God intended for it.

May our precious Lord Jesus encourage your heart as you serve Him with renewed vigor and joy in large and small ways, all for His glory and praise. We are blessed daughters, indeed, and whatever ways we can express our thankfulness to our Redeemer is a joy and privilege. “But thanks be to God, Which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”--1 Corinthians 15:57-58 

Much Love in Christ,
Tiffany



What is a True Servant of Jesus Christ?
Gleanings from 2 Peter 1~Sermon Notes


“Servant” according to 2 Peter 1:1 implies a slave totally possessed by the master who purchased him. Peter knew he had been blood-bought and that he was completely Christ’s.
    The slave existed for his master and had no other reason for his existence. Peter existed only for Jesus Christ.
   A slave’s sole purpose was to serve his master. He was at his master’s disposal every moment of the day and night. This was in Peter’s mind; he was a true servant of Jesus Christ.
   The slave’s will belonged to his master—he was allowed no will and no ambition of his own, only the will of his master. Peter was utterly abandoned to Jesus Christ. Not my will, Father, but Thine be done. I am Thine.
    In calling himself the Lord’s servant, Peter meant that he had received the highest, most honored, kingly profession in all the world—because he was the servant of Jesus Christ. Moses, David, Joshua, and Jude were also “servants of God.”
    “If any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall also My servant be: if any man serve Me, him will My Father honour.”   
  John 12:26
    Being a servant is despised in the eyes of the world, but there is no higher calling for the Christian.