In Exodus 21, as the Law is being handed down the topic turns to the treatment of servants or more rightly slaves. Exodus chapter 21 explains the treatment of Hebrew slaves. The male Hebrew servant could only be kept for in bondage for 6 years and then must be freed. If he had a wife or a family when he was enslaved, they would go out free with him, however, if his master gave him a wife, she and her children would stay in slavery. He could go free at the end of his term, but his wife and children would remain the property of their master.
Here’s one part of this passage that always intrigues me, if the man did not want to leave his wife and was content to serve his master for the rest of his life he could give his freedom back to the master. Once this was fully decided, he and his master would go before the judges and then go to the doorpost, and the master would punch a hole through the ear of the servant with an awl. The hole through his ear was a sign to all that he was forever the property of his master. 
The decision was permanent, there was no going back, no recourse, he would remain a servant for all his days.
As I ponder the attributes of a successful Christian walk I realize that like the contented servant we must be willing to lay aside ourselves, our self-will and every weight and sin, we must be sold out, completely, wholly devoted to serving Jesus. I see the parallel in this commandment of our need to be irrevocably, publicly sold out, no recourse, no plan B, no other option. All our eggs in Jesus’ basket, all the bridges to our past lives burned and demolished. We get in trouble when we try to hang on to both sides or when we hold on to part of the old man as a safety net. As the old saying goes ‘if you live hard for Jesus it’s easy, but if you try to live easy it’ll be hard”. No man can serve two masters.
And No, you don’t need to poke a hole in your ear to prove your devotion, but your dedication should be clearly evident in your life, by your actions, your associations and your zeal for Jesus.
We must also remember that we and every person we know are humans and prone to make mistakes. Subject to slip and sometimes even fall, errors are in our nature, and we are not and will never be perfect.
Jesus said, “there is none good but one.”
Micah 7:8 says “ Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: WHEN I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.
Don’t be too quick to judge others because they stumble. Have compassion and pray for them to overcome. Pray for God’s wisdom, knowledge, and understanding for you and for them.
Don’t be so quick to give up when you stumble. Daily repentance is an excellent practice. Take the time in prayer to backtrack through yesterday and clean house before God. Ask the Lord to forgive and cleanse you of any and everything that is contrary to His will. It will also help you realize your weaknesses and help you know what to avoid tomorrow.
Never be too proud to ask for forgiveness, not from God or from man. If you make a mistake, own and learn from it, otherwise you are destined to make it again.
The Wife
The 2nd thought that came to mind has to do with the Servant Wife that was not eligible for release with her husband. In the cases where the husband stayed, it was partially her love and devotion, both to her husband and to the master that helped the freed husband decide to remain a servant, to stay in the Masters House.
I grew up in a household where one of my parents was faithful to God, and the other was not. As a direct result of Momma’s faithfulness and dedication the majority of the 50 or so kids, grandkids, great and soon to be great-great grandkids are now living for God. We also had the honor of baptizing my father toward the end of his life.
The importance of being faithful to God in front of your family and friends, especially those that are not saved cannot be stressed enough. I’m definitely not talking about being preachy, or judgey with them, just being faithful, being the example, being a stabilizing force in their lives and being sensitive to God in dealing with them.
There is no life like serving God, but to be successful, and to be a good servant to the King you must be wholly devoted, sold-out and dedicated to His cause.
Lord, take me to the doorpost of Your house and consecrate me to You.
It is genuinely Awl or Nothing.
May God Bless You Richly
Greg
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