115. Чей ты?

We hear each other asking: whose are you? And the other one answers: I am the slave of such and such a master, or the son of such and such a father, and so on. When a Christian is asked like this, what should he answer? Truly every Christian must answer: I am a servant of Christ; for she confesses Christ as her Lord (1 Cor. 7:22; Rom. 10:9; Col. 3:24). But look, Christian, into your conscience, whether you are working for Christ, whether you are pleasing Christ, like a slave to your master. The holy martyrs, when their tormentors asked: “Whose are you?” - they answered boldly: “We are Christians, we are Christ’s servants.” But they were so faithful to Christ their Lord that they did not spare their blood and life for the sake of His holy name. They loved Him so much that not only the honor, glory and riches of this world, the weeping and tears of fathers and mothers, wives and children, but also terrible torment and death itself could not separate them from Christ’s love (Rom. 8:38–39). Here are the true servants of Christ, here are the true Christians, sons of light, sons of the Holy Church, meek sheep of Christ, brave warriors of King Christ, loving members of the body of Christ, children of the Most High God and heirs of His kingdom! And to you, a Christian who professes Christ, but lives contrary to Christ, I say to you, how can you say: “I am Christ’s servant”? It is truly a great dignity to be a servant of Christ. This honor and dignity is incomparably greater and higher than being the son of a glorious prince or king of the earth. My soul will boast in the Lord (Ps. 33:3). Many people boast: I am the slave of such and such a high master, or the servant of such and such a prince or nobleman, or the courtier of such and such a Tsar. But Christians truly and worthily boast about their Lord: we are servants of the Heavenly King Jesus Christ. Truly this is true praise, truly high glory, honor and dignity - to be and be called Christ's servant. But how can one call himself a servant of Christ, who works for sin, the world and himself, and not for Christ? What is the use of being called Christ's servant, and not being Christ's servant; outwardly and by profession be a Christian, but inwardly, by disposition, be a pagan or, what is worse, a beast? The Holy Apostle announces to us the signs of Christ's servants, so that we tempt and know ourselves whether we are Christ's. Those who are Christ's, he says, have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts (Gal. 5:24). These are the signs of Christ's people or slaves! Crucify, Christian, your flesh with its passions and lusts - and you will truly be Christ’s servant, a Christian in confession and deed. Otherwise, a false Christian is one who is called a Christian, but does not have a Christian character and does not live like a Christian. Be a Christian on the inside, and not on the outside, and then you will be a true servant of Christ. Why do you call Me: “Lord! God!" - and do not do what I say? - says the Lord (Luke 6:46). Do what the Lord wants, and then call Him your Lord, and He will recognize you as His servant. You might be interested in: