“Thou Art My Servant”

To be a servant of God is a great honor. King Benjamin reported to his people that God had preserved him so that he could serve them. Then, he added, “Because I said unto you that I had spent my days in your service, I do not desire to boast, for I have only been in the service of God” (Mosiah 2:16).

“Thou, Israel, art my servant,” said God, through the prophet Isaiah. “Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away” (Isaiah 41:8-9). To be God’s servant is to be on His team.

“Behold my servant, whom I uphold,” said God; “mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth” (Isaiah 42:1). To be God’s servant is to receive His sustaining power.

“Ye are my witnesses,” said God, “and my servant whom I have chosen” (Isaiah 43:10). To be God’s servant is to represent Him: to testify that He lives and loves us.

“Thou art my servant,” said God, “I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me” (Isaiah 44:21). To be God’s servant is to be remembered.

To Cyrus, king of Persia, God said, “For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by my name” (Isaiah 45:4). God will enlist the help of other people on behalf of His servants.

“Thou art my servant,” God told Isaiah, and when he feared that he had failed in his prophetic calling, God reassured him: “Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength” (Isaiah 49:3-5, 1 Nephi 21:3-5). God blesses His servants for their efforts, even when they are disappointed in the results.

Today, I will serve God. I will look for opportunities to contribute to His work, both through formal church assignments and through acts of service. I will remember that He delights in my efforts and that He will remember and sustain His servants.