When I was a little girl, I use to hear my maternal grandmother talk about the “Master” all the time. I had no earthly idea about whom she was talking. I would sometimes ask her, but the answers still did not make sense to me. I guess I was just too young to understand.
All I knew is that whoever this “Master” was to her, He was very important. She would talk and sing about Him every chance that she got. One of the things that the Word affirms about this “Master” is, “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.” (John 12:26 ESV) The Word further instructs, “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” (John 18:16-18 ESV)
Although it took me many years, experiences good and bad, much studying of the Bible and listening to sermon after sermon, I know this “Master” for myself, and that’s enough! No matter what anyone tells you about this “Master,” get to know Him for yourself.
These verses of Scripture further define this “Master” even more clearly: “‘Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he’.” (John 13:13-19 KJV)
I know this “Master” for myself because I have been in situations throughout my life in which only He could have delivered me. There are times when I am in my kitchen cooking and cleaning that I tune in to some good old gospel songs, and just this “Master” and I “will have church.” What a time we have, because at that point, I can feel the presence of the Lord all over me! I know this “Master” that my grandmother sang and praised about, because whenever I go to Him in prayer, I know that I can count it already done and stand back awaiting the manifestation of my prayer. I know this “Master” for myself because I am not ashamed to give Him a shout of praise every now and then. Hallelujah! I am so glad that I took the time to get to know Him for myself!
I am closing this profound message with the illustration, “What Lies on the Other Side of Life,” by an unknown author, which should cause you to shout about this “Master.” Please enjoy, get happy for this “Master,” and share with others!
“A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, ‘Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side.’
“Very quietly, the doctor said, ‘I don’t know.’
“‘You don’t know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?’
“The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room with his tail wagging and an eager show of gladness.
“Turning to the patient, the doctor said, ‘Did you notice my dog? He’s never been in this room before. He didn’t know what was inside… He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing: I know my Master is there, and that is enough.’”
Have a wonderfully blessed week, and never leave home without Him!
(Anna Bright is a minister and educator in Walterboro. She can be reached at abrightcolumn@lowcountry.com)
