John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

How far into your disciple’s training do you mention being a servant?

With mine I discovered I didn’t have to mention it at all. His heart change admitted he was ready to serve. He was more concerned about effective service than anything. I like that. A servant should be looking to please his Lord, but how can you do that without knowing his Lord’s commands?

I quote John 15:15 here, not because there is a transition from servant to friend but rather that Jesus is declaring that He will make His Father’s will known to us, just as His Father did for Him. So often I hear people make reference to this verse as a transition in relationship. It is not. We are still servants.

Who is a trusted servant?

Who is a trusted friend?

The first is faithful in service and the second is faithful in loyalty. I do not want my disciples to believe that it is OK to give up being faithful in service in favor of being loyal. We do not give up one to be the other.

I see within churches a tendency for service to wax cold. I cannot help but wonder just how much of that attitude comes from becoming too familiar with our Lord. Yes we need to draw closer to our Lord but at what point does friendship take on an air of disrespect?

A tiger will turn on you and bite you because that is his nature. Jesus will not, because that is His nature. What He will do however is stop asking His friends to do important works because they haven’t been faithful in service.

Luke 19:17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

Men rejoice in being called good and being given authority.

I hate thinking I have been faithful in very little.