Subject or slave?

Every person is a subject of God, but not everyone is a slave.

What is a slave? How does a slave think, perceive, and act?

“I am the Lord’s slave,” said Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.”

Luke 1:38

Slaves let things happen TO THEM.

“Now, Master, You can dismiss Your slave in peace, as You promised.”

Luke 2:29

Slaves are dismissed, and have promises given to them by their masters.  

“Those slaves the master will find alert when he comes will be blessed. I assure you: He will get ready, have them recline at the table, then come and serve them.”

Luke 12:37

Alert slaves are blessed slaves.

Slaves are summoned by God to do or think or act according to whatever God summons them to do.  In other words, slaves are personally called by God with a personal message to be carried out (not just randomly doing things):

“He called 10 of his slaves, gave them 10 minas, and told them, ‘Engage in business until I come back.’”

Luke 19:13

Slaves hear an order.

By contrast what does it mean to be a subject?

How might subjects think, perceive and act?

““But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We don’t want this man to rule over us! ’ “At his return, having received the authority to be king, he summoned those slaves he had given the money to, so he could find out how much they had made in business.”

Luke 19:14-15

In other words, subjects do a lot of talking at the Master, but slaves actually talk with their Master.  

Subjects are easily offended.

They might think, "why did You do this to me?!"  "How come I got the short end of the stick!?"  "WHY ARE YOU MAKING ME DO something I don't want to do?!"

"And anyone who is not offended because of Me is blessed.”

Luke 7:23

Subjects tend to do, do, do, but forget about the justness and love for God for having giving much more than we could ever do, do, do!

““But woe to you Pharisees! You give a tenth of mint, rue, and every kind of herb, and you bypass justice and love for God. These things you should have done without neglecting the others.”

Luke 11:42

They're greedy, or they easily fall into greed because they place their value in things they can earn:

“He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.””

Luke 12:15

Subjects do a great deal of preparing which might look great until God points out that all their preparing is for their own comfort and peace of mind rather than preparing to make God more glorious in the eyes of others:

““But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared — whose will they be? ’ “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.””

Luke 12:20-21

Subjects strive and get anxious for everything BUT the kingdom of God:

“Don’t keep striving for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 

“But seek His kingdom, and these things will be provided for you.”

Luke 12:29-31

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Fellow slaves,  Jesus is our Master. 

“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.”

Luke 6:40

Do you have a reputation where people meet you and feel like they are in the presence of Jesus?  

How does the teacher train us to be obedient to God as He was?

“For I too am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under my command. I say to this one, ‘Go! ’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come! ’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this! ’ and he does it.” 

Jesus heard this and was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following Him, He said, “I tell you, I have not found so great a faith even in Israel! ””

Luke 7:8-9

So then where do we begin to go from mere subjects to slaves?

Know there is a purpose for which you were created by God and chosen:

“But He said to them, “I must proclaim the good news about the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because I was sent for this purpose.””

Luke 4:43 

And then ask God to show you how or what you can begin to think, perceive or do to be transformed into your created purpose:

“During those days He went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God. When daylight came, He summoned His disciples, and He chose 12 of them — He also named them apostles:”

Luke 6:12-13

So then, basically, everyone is a subject, but not everyone is a slave. 

How can we know that we are slaves as well as subjects?  

I find that taking a mental knee before God in prayer, asking that His will be done is the first practice I can do to bring my willfulness and self under submission to His authority.  Recognizing that I have a will, with wants and desires, and then seeking to bring those to God in honesty and in humility so that God would correct me as my master.  

A slave is someone that belongs to God, is promised things by God, is chosen, is summoned, is named, is sent, is blessed, known by God, and is like God.  

A subject is an individual among other individuals who are still subject to God. 

Which one most resonates with you? 

Jmegrey