The True Meaning of Servanthood

At the age of 40, God showed me the true meaning of Servanthood.
It was in the early summer of 2001, I was in the back yard doing some yard work when the phone rang. It was then that I received the news that a good friend of mine, a sister to me and devout follower of Christ had unexpectedly been called home to heaven. She had just turned 40, the same age as me. We had joined the same church at the same time, even the same bible study classes along with the Greeter’s Ministry, (where we stand poised, willing, ready, and able to meet, greet and welcome all church members a guests with a warm smile and a gracious spirit), and the Drama Ministry (where we give our time and talents to the Lord through different types and styles of plays and musicals portrayals of the characters in the Bible) and yes, the Choir as well. She stood about 4 feet 11 inches, but when it came to doing God’s will she stood tall among the rest. The news was overwhelming to me. I could not understand why the Lord would call her home at such an early point in her life. I asked God over and over again, why her Lord? Why her? I then found myself lying in my bed staring at the ceiling. It was at that moment when God took me to a place of light rather than a physical place with a spiritual significance giving me a state of calm and peace with a strong impression of a heightened awareness. This was an (Out-of-body) state, beyond my understanding. I saw King Jesus in all of his glory sitting on his throne in heaven and the angels flying around preparing for the big celebration of Jesus’ soon return. Each angel was giving an update to Jesus on their status of preparation.
The First angel to approach the throne was from the Drama Ministry and he said, “My Lord Jesus” as he bowed down before the throne. “We are working diligently in preparation for your return and everything is going well. However, we are in need of someone who would represent you well. Someone who is full of joy, someone who constantly gives you honor and glory, and one who is small in stature but stands out among the rest.”
Then Jesus replied to the angel “I see, I see.”
Then, the Second angel approached the throne representing the Greeter’s Ministry. As he bowed down before the throne, he said “My Lord Jesus, we are working diligently in preparation for your return and everything is going well. However, we are in need of someone to fill an open position. One who expresses her LOVE for you and one who is not too tall, but small in stature and stands out among the rest. She will be just what we need to greet your people as they come through the pearly gates.”
Then Jesus replied to the angel “I see, I see.”

Then, the Third Angel approached the throne representing the Music Ministry. As he bowed down before the throne, he said, “My Lord Jesus, we are working diligently in preparation for your return and everything is going well. However, we are in the need of someone to fill an open position in one of our choirs. She would need to be an alto, not too tall but small in stature. You see we need to place her in the front row on the end of the pew. We need someone who is not afraid to express her joy and LOVE to you my Lord.”
Then Jesus looked over at one of his Archangels and said to him, “How old would my daughter Charlene be about now?”
The Angel replied, “about 40 years old my Lord.”
Jesus replied, “I see, I see. How long did the Israelites wonder in the wilderness before they were allowed to go into the Promise Land?” The Angel replied, “40 years my Lord.”
Jesus said, “Go down and tell my Daughter Charlene that her assignment is complete and that I need her here in Heaven to fulfill her purpose.” Then upon her arrival, King Jesus said to her “Well done my good and faithful servant” and the Angels put on her robe and they rejoiced as she entered through the gates of Heaven.
The feelings of peace, joy and love were at the heart of my experience as I rejoiced in knowing the true meaning of servant hood.
Written by: Rev Anthony D. Powell