Servant Master

When he entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.”  He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” Matthew 8:5-7

The Master serving his servant.

He calls his servant to do this or to do that. He tells him to go or to stay. The servant waits for the master’s hands when to point and where to point. This master directs his servant. The servant serves his master. Yet at this instance, the master serves his servant. The servant is powerless, paralyzed at home. The servant has no comfort, suffering dreadfully. The servant can’t stand and can’t come. The master comes to his aid, he serves the supposedly serving.  The master thinks more of his servant more than himself.

And he came to Jesus, the ultimate Master. He prayed to him, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” The Master did not have second or third thoughts on this as he said to him, “I will come and cure him.”

Is Jesus familiar with this situation?

He is our Master who is serving his servants. He comes to our aid. When we are powerless and paralyzed, Jesus carries us and walks the way for us. When we are dreadfully suffering, our Master comes to be our comfort and stronghold.

He gives us the ability to preach his word. He supplies the wisdom to proclaim. He provides the hands to work. He gives us the pen to write. He maintains in us the passionate heart to be committed and consistent. He provides us with the strength to win over temptations so we may be loyal to him. When we are in lack and scarce, he reaches out his hands and provides our needs. He gives us the grace for us to be robust hearted for him. He blesses us with courage in our fear and uncertainty. He is a master who thinks more of his servants. A master who came and comes to our aid.

Jesus is our Master. Yet, he serves us, his servants. He is our Servant Master.

Swing God

Then will the LORD create, over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her place of assembly, A smoking cloud by day and a light of flaming fire by night. Isaiah 4:5

The swing bus. In my profession, it is a generation source that adjusts its output for the system to keep its balance. The balance is between the output of generation sources and consumption of load sinks. When power is more than the demand, the swing bus adjust its supply to keep the system balance. When there is an imbalance due to the fact that load consumption is greater than the generation, the swing bus boosts its provision to bring the system into equilibrium.

The logic is simple yet significant. The swing bus adjusts itself to create balance. Give more when there is less, give less when there is more.

Is God a swing God? He knows when to give more when there is less. He knows when to give less when there is more.

The verse above proves this – Then will the LORD create, over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her place of assembly, a smoking cloud by day and a light of flaming fire by night.

When there is more sunlight, he gives a shade. When there is darkness around us, he gives light.

No. He is not a God whose like an automatic dispenser.

He is a God who knows what is our need – a smoking cloud or a flaming fire. He is a God who knows when is our need – day or night. He is a God who knows how much we need – over the whole site, over the assembly.

When there is too much sun burning our hearts with pride, he gives us humility. When there is too much light in us stealing his glory, he sends shadows. When we take control of the day and not him, he provides smoking clouds so we know he drives our lives.

When there is weakness, he provides strength to overcome. In our dimmed hospital rooms, he sends fire of healing. To the gloomy alleys of the homeless and forgotten, he gives refuge and stronghold. To the shady place of the alone and lonely, he makes his presence felt. Look into your night, wait for the light of flaming fire he holds.

All from God for us to keep us in balance.

God knows our needs. What it is, when we need it, how much we need it. And he dances swing.