Sunday, March 30, 2014

Kingdom Life, Means a Service Life

The other day I was doing my daily scripture reading. During that time a scripture popped out to me. I would like to share that with you today.

Heb 1:14 ESV  Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?


That word "serve" really got to me. It got me thinking about service. I hope that I too can get you to think about service for a minute too. In this verse the Author is talking about the angels of God. He says that they are sent to "serve" those outside of the faith. To serve those who will “inherit salvation.” Isn’t that exactly what Jesus came to do too? Take a moment to think on the life of Jesus.....

This verse came to mind when I thought of Him and His work for us!

Mar 10:45 ESV  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

That is what He came to do! Jesus came to serve!!! WOW! Chew on that for a moment... As you think on this, let me just show another example of service:

2Co 12:15a ESV  I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls…

This is just a very small picture of both Paul and Jesus life service. Though both of these verses show a clear picture that both Jesus and Paul's heart was to serve! You see Jesus was the first example. The first fruit into this new life. Jesus showed the way through a life of service, being obedient even through death! Paul (and the others) also saw and imitated this very same laying-down a life-in-service!

I showed Heb_1:14, Mar_10:45, & 2Co_12:15 to make the point that in the kingdom of God, service is a must! To simply say "I am a Christian" and go on about your day with nothing to show for it, is not a life in the kingdom. At all levels God has called His creations to serve, the Angels, His people, His Son (Jesus), and His adopted sons & daughters...

How do we walk in a life of service?... This verse again says it all, and can never be said to much:

Mat 22:37-40 ESV  And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. (38)  This is the great and first commandment. (39)  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (40)  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."

To love God, and to Love others will lead us into the appropriate actions to take in service! Living a kingdom life is not one of passiveness, but one of activeness!

If you cannot look at your life right now, and say "yes, I am in a life service..." (however that may look) then I would strongly encourage you to evaluate your walk with God! If it was fitting for God to ordain His angels, His Son, and those who carried the "new church" into world, then why would He NOT call you to service? The answer is He has called you!

You have been called to a life in Christ! In that life of Christ is one that ministers the gospel of the good news of Jesus' finished work on the cross! Be it through words or deeds! We are also called to labor and work with our hands to move the kingdom forward!... This life of service through faith in Jesus is the hallmarking trademark of a Christian!

Not that there is anything wrong with wearing a cross, or putting a "Jesus fish" on your car, or even getting "Godly" tattoo, to show that you are a "Christian." But what good do those things do? I mean really does adding all the more "Jesus" appeal to our life make a bit of difference? If we want people to know that we are Christians, then we should act like one, and live a life of service, a life of love, and a life willing to lay it down! If we want people to know our moral values should we hang another poster? Or should we live a gospel life, of service? I am sure you get the idea now J

We are called to be in the world, but not to "look" like the world. And the only way to not look like the world is to live a life of biblical obedience, to live a life of service for those in the faith, and those "who will inherit salvation" through Jesus Christ!

With that let me ask you two questions:

If you are serving right now, how are you doing it?

If you are not walking in service then what is God laying on your heart to do?

Your Brother in Christ
Grace and Peace be with you
Nate Cook, Setting Captives Free Team Member

And Jesus said to me:

Eze 3:10b-11a  "...Receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears, and go, get to the captives..."

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