Are you a Servant?

  Are you a Servant?

Jesus speaking to his disciples said,

“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35.

The world thinks he who comes first is the greatest. But Jesus turned that on its head. He told his disciples that if you want to be first you must be servant of all.

It takes a lot to be a servant. It means at times being looked down on.

I knew a caretaker once who worked at a major university. Students and some staff looked down on him and others like him as uneducated only capable of doing menial work. But this man was proud of what he did. 

Not only that what the students and others who looked down on him didn’t realize was because of his work they could come to school. With out him and others like him the toilets wouldn’t be cleaned. The desks would left dirty and sticky and the garbage not removed. The result of which would mean the department of health shutting the school down.

This is what Jesus meant. Without knowing it this caretaker was one of the most important people in the school.

As believers in Christ Jesus we must be willing to serve all those around us. No matter who they are.

Are you a servant?

Please think about it.

Are you full of good works?

  Are you full of Good works?

In the book of Acts we read,

“Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity.” Acts 9:36.

So here is the question are you like Tabitha? Are you full of good works and charity?

Jesus said,

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" Matthew 7:12.

Are you doing this?

If you consider yourself a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus you should be.

Please think about it.

What God asks

   What God asks

In the book of Deuteronomy we read,

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good Deuteronomy 10:12,13.

Here God is speaking directly to Israel and by extension I believe He is speaking to the church as a corporate body.

God is making it clear what He requires. 

1/ to fear the LORD. (Have respect for Him)

2/ to walk in the ways God has commanded.

3/ to love God.

4/ to serve God with all your heart and soul.

5/ to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord.

He then finishes by stating it is for the believers own good.

These are not difficult things to follow. And ultimately they will strengthen our faith in God.

Please think about it.

As for me

  As for me

In the book of Joshua we read,

"Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.  

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. 

But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24: 14,15.

For me this sums things up. I and my household will serve the Lord.

I will as the Psalmist puts it,

I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; 

I will tell of all your wonders. 

I will be glad and rejoice in you; 

I will sing praise to your name, O Most High." 

                                                              Psalm 9:1,2.

Dear reader will you join with me this day in serving and praising The LORD God Almighty?

Please think about it.

Choose

Choose
The book of Joshua tells of Joshua giving the Israelites a choice. It states,
“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.  
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24: 14,15
This is the same choice we have today.
In our twenty-first century world we have many gods whether we admit it our not. Everything from money, to our job, to what we own, or want to own can become our gods. It just depends on the emphasis we place on these things. After all having wealth, having your dream job, owning or wanting to own a home and nice things is not sinful. They only become sinful if they pull you away from God or cause you to do negative things to those around you.
Jesus warned
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21.  
Where our true treasure, is where our heart lies.
Matthew’s gospel records this,
“Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”
“Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,  honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’’” 
“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.” Matthew 19:16-22.
This young man believed there was a God BUT he put his trust in his wealth not in God. He lacked the faith to give up all he had in this world and trust exclusively in God to provide for him.
Thus my question to you the reader is, if you claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus are you willing if asked by God, to give up all you own and rely entirely on God to provide for you?
Is you treasure in Heaven or on Earth?
Please think about it.