The Servant’s Heritage

By Larry Doyle Crenshaw

MeditationsInLight.Blogspot.com

 Servants of God and His kingdom’s cause

Inherit the blessings God has avowed

And as we serve Him, His word and laws

We become His heirs, hallowed and endowed

In a world ever more focused on serving the self, the nobleness of true servanthood is often obscured and unrecognized.  Yet, if we profess the Christian cause, then we would do well to acquire the traits and perform the practices of true servants.  The practice of Servanthood requires few skills but an enormous amount of focus directed toward the needs of others.

There was One, of course, who provided an advanced course in Servanthood.  From washing the dirty feet of others, to cleansing souls via His Atonement, the Lord, Jesus defined Servanthood for all of us.  His example and His message underscored the amazing principle that when we serving God’s children, we are serving their Father.  Hence, our mortal curriculum is filled with daily opportunities for charitable, Godly service

Yet Servanthood is not empty of recompense.  There is an amazing grace and tender mercy that accompanies our Godly service.  For as we sacrifice our time, our energies and means in behalf of others, and as we help build God’s kingdom, we are imbued with greater light, more spiritual energy, and greater capacity.   In our pursuit to “bear one another’s burdens,” (Galatians 6:2) and to “lift up the hands that hang down,” or “strengthen the feeble knees,” (Hebrews 12:12) we find our own burdens lighter, our hands and arms lifted up, and our knees strengthened.  Thus, we become more hallowed and sanctified as the law of Christ is fulfilled in our Servanthood.  This is what the ancient prophet referred to as, “the heritage of the servants of the Lord.” (Isaiah 54:17)

Hence, our meditative verse declares:

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord

Whose righteousness is of Him forevermore

An eternal bequest of glory is our reward

As we enter Heaven’s Gate to go out nevermore

 The Servant’s Heritage

7  For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee.

8  In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer….  10 For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee….  13 And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children…. 17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall revile against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

Book of Mormon   3 Nephi 22:7-8, 10,13,17  (Isaiah 54:17)

Servants of God and His kingdom’s cause

Inherit the blessings God has avowed

And as we serve Him, His word and laws

We become His heirs, hallowed and endowed

Though God on occasion may hide His face

His compassion and mercy is soon shown

He blesses with power, love and grace

Vowing to forsake not, nor ever disown

Faithful servants need never fear

God’s armor is a defense and shield

And guardian angels are ever near

As the sword of the Spirit they wield

Righteous servants are protected

As the world battles the blest

Enemies are subdued and subjected

And no weapon against them shall molest

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord

Whose righteousness is of Him forevermore

An eternal bequest of glory is our reward

As we enter Heaven’s Gate to go out nevermore

Larry Doyle Crenshaw