Saved to Serve - Part Two

Saved To Serve - Part Two

In order that we not be negligent in our service, we need to be aware of some hindrances to sevanthood. We may find ourselves serving the wrong master. Jesus warned we cannot serve both God and Mammon - Mt 6:24 "No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Serving the wrong things will render us fruitless - Lk 8:14 "And that which fell among the thorns, these are they that have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection." Paul illustrated we can only serve the one we obey - Ro 6:16 "Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves as servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"

We may find ourselves placing limitations on our service. Some limit how, where, and when they will serve as Moses tried to do - Exo 3:10,11 "Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?" Many will serve God, but only when convenient. Some limit who they will serve as Jonah tried to do - Jon 1:1-3 "Now the word of Jehovah came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of Jehovah; and he went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of Jehovah."

Many will serve God, but not when it means serving others (especially people we don’t like). We may find ourselves possessing certain attitudes such as sluggishness and laziness - He 6:11,12 "And we desire that each one of you may show the same diligence unto the fulness of hope even to the end: that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."; Mt 25:26 "But his lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I did not scatter;" We may find ourselves with an attitude such as ingratitude - 2 Co 8:9 "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich."; Ph 2:5-7 "Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men;" Which often comes when we forget how graciously we have been served. We like service with a smile; are we willing to give service with a smile? Such as pride or self-centeredness as when self-pity affected Elijah and he went and hid in a cave - 1 Ki 19:13-18 "And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for Jehovah, the God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And Jehovah said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, thou shalt anoint Hazael to be king over Syria; and Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay; and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. Yet will I leave me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him." Or as when some preached Christ out of envy - Ph 1:15-18 "Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: the one do it of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel; but the other proclaim Christ of faction, not sincerely, thinking to raise up affliction for me in my bonds. What then? only that in every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and therein I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice." As when some seek for recognition, praise - Mt 6:1-4 "Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them: else ye have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. When therefore thou doest alms, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee." -- Humility and unselfishness are basic prerequisites for servanthood - Ac 20:19 "serving the Lord with all lowliness of mind, and with tears, and with trials which befell me by the plots of the Jews;"; Ph 2:3-4 "doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself; not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others."

The Christian has been "Saved To Serve". Called to serve God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Called to serve his brethren and those in the world. -- It is a noble calling, one that we should accept with humility and gratitude. If one chooses not to serve God then they remain a slave to sin - Ro 6:16a "Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves as servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey;" And the end of such slavery is eternal death - Ro 6:16b "whether of sin unto death," But when one chooses to serve God their servitude leads to righteousness - Ro 6:16c "or of obedience unto righteousness?" The end of such service is eternal life - Ro 6:22 "But now being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end eternal life." May what the apostle Paul wrote of the brethren in Rome be true of all Christians today. "But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness." (Ro 6:17-18). Have you been set free from sin, that you might serve Jesus Christ? - Please read Ro 6:1-7

This will conclude this series of lessons on The Significance of Being a Christian. I hope that they have helped you recognize the signifacance of the choice you made when you became a Christian. My hope and prayer is that this will help you live a fuller and faithful life in Christ.

Yours in Christ,
Jim Nested