“If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years; and in the seventh year he shall go out free and pay nothing...But if the servant plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ then his master shall bring him to the judges. He shall also bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever.” Exodus 21:2-6. (NKJV).
“Grandfather, have an earache?”
“No. Just checking my right earlobe. Has a hole in it.”
“I don’t see a hole.” Timmy leaned close. “Nope. Nothing there.”
Grandfather chuckled. “It’s there, all right. Know about the bondservant, son?” Timmy tilted his head.
“It’s a picture of what the Lord Jesus does for us. He sets us free. Free to choose Him.”
“Isn’t it just a story? 'Sides, I don’t want to be a servant.” He crossed his arms over his chest.
“You don’t want to be just anyone’s servant. You want someone who loves you and will provide for you. That’s what the Lord Jesus did for me, for you.”
“For me?" He squinted, lips tight. "How?”
“I wanted to be honorable. To love my neighbor. The more I tried, the more I messed up. I was one miserable somebody.”
“Isn’t it just a story? 'Sides, I don’t want to be a servant.” He crossed his arms over his chest.
“You don’t want to be just anyone’s servant. You want someone who loves you and will provide for you. That’s what the Lord Jesus did for me, for you.”
“For me?" He squinted, lips tight. "How?”
“I wanted to be honorable. To love my neighbor. The more I tried, the more I messed up. I was one miserable somebody.”
Timmy's brow furrowed. “But you’re good, Grandfather. Why’d you think you were bad?”
“Why do you say I’m good?”
“You treat folks nice and you're kind--”
“All because Jesus loves me. He paid for my sins, set me free. Like the servant, I love my Master, told Him I wanted to be His. ‘You’re sure?' He said. Then He brought me to the door because He is the Door. He pierced my ear with an awl, a permanent hole so I serve Him forever. Now I come and go where He sends me.”
“Why the ear?”
“Listening obedience--I hear and obey His voice.”
“I asked the Lord into my life.” Timmy touched his ear. "Do I have a hole?”
“Why do you say I’m good?”
“You treat folks nice and you're kind--”
“All because Jesus loves me. He paid for my sins, set me free. Like the servant, I love my Master, told Him I wanted to be His. ‘You’re sure?' He said. Then He brought me to the door because He is the Door. He pierced my ear with an awl, a permanent hole so I serve Him forever. Now I come and go where He sends me.”
“Why the ear?”
“Listening obedience--I hear and obey His voice.”
“I asked the Lord into my life.” Timmy touched his ear. "Do I have a hole?”
"You better believe it. That's the servant's mark--the mark of freedom." Grandfather tugged Timmy's ear.
Kingdom Thinking. When I understood the Lord Jesus loves me with an everlasting love and promises never to leave nor forsake me, I sold out to Him. His forever. He offers the same to you. Won’t you choose Him?
Kingdom Thinking. When I understood the Lord Jesus loves me with an everlasting love and promises never to leave nor forsake me, I sold out to Him. His forever. He offers the same to you. Won’t you choose Him?