"The translation of doulos by 'servant' rather than 'slave' [led] to the total effacement of its ancient significance (1965: 319). This ennobling title means the believer belongs to the Lord, who constantly "gives Himself away" in infinite love, through faith. Indeed, the doulos (slave) of Christ is His very Bride (cf. Rev 19:7-9). Accordingly, the faithful believer seeks to do all things in intimate partnership with Christ, as He births faith in the heart (cf. Ro 10:6-8,17; Heb 11:6). This is possible because the believer is joined to Christ as a genuine member of His very body (Jn 14:20; 1 Cor 12:13).
Squanto’s Story
Squanto arrived in 1619, just a year before the Pilgrims arrived at Cape Cod. When he returned, he was distressed to find that all of his tribe had died of a terrible plague. He found solace in the household of Massasoit, the head Sachem -- or chief -- over all the smaller tribes in the greater area. The land Squanto grew up on was abandoned, due to superstition over the great plague that had wiped out the Patuxet tribe. This is the very acreage that the Mayflower came upon in the snowy, cold December of 1620. The Mayflower tried to sail down the Hudson River, to get out of the bay area, but strong headwinds kept providentially pushing her precious cargo back to Cape Cod.
Pilgrims in a Strange Land
The pilgrims' lives truly were lived in sacrifice without complaining, as was their trademark. They were living in the New World before it was famous for "first world problems". As I poured through their journals and writings, I was gripped with an extreme conviction. Their hard work ethic, their fellowship and unity, their faithfulness, their lack of complaining paints a stark contrast to the world that I live in. The men, women and children who left everything to come to The New World were following what they believed was the strong and direct will of The Lord for their lives. They were refugees in every sense of the word, yet they lived in confident knowledge that the King of Kings was their father and protector.
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