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People in the world always want to achieve position, power and find great pride in those. But God always called his chosen one's his servants and they took pride in being a servant and serving others.
Matthew 20:28
Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Jesus says he came to serve not to be served. Jesus being the son of God came to serve. Lets learn few more things about being a servant.
1. Whom Should I Serve?
1 Samuel 12:24
But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.
Here it says that we got to serve the Lord our God faithfully because he has done great things for us.
Matthew 4:10
Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"
Here Jesus says that we have to serve God only..
Matthew 6:24
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
We can't serve two masters ... Hence we can't serve both God and money. Lets make sure God has the no. 1 priority in our lives. Not money or family or job or some other relationship in the world.
2. Why Should I Serve?
Luke 17:7-10
7 "Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'?
8 Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'?
9 Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do?
10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'"
We should serve because it is our duty to serve. We should not serve to get a reward or to please people around us but to please God.
Mark 10:35-38
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask."
36 "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.
37 They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory."
38 "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?"
Here James and John got tempted for a position. Lets make sure we are not serving to get a position to become a leader or zone leader etc.
Lets have a heart to serve God because we are grateful to him.
3. How should I serve?
Colossians 3:23-24
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Serve with all your heart keeping it in mind that we are serving God not men.
Galatians 5:13
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love.
It says we got to love another in love... with love... because you love the person you are serving.
Luke 9:62
Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
Serve with a firm decision. Once decided to serve don't look back. Any responsibility through which we are serving God we got to make sure that we don't leave it in between.
Luke 12:35
"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning,
It says that we got to be always ready to serve also be alert to know / realise an opportunity to serve.
Romans 15:17
Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God.
We got to consider serving a previlege not a burden. As the scripiture says we got to glorify our service to God.
Particular Suggestiions :
1. Learn to serve without being asked, look for needs.
2. When given a responsibility let's make sure we are doing our best at it. For example responsibilities like child care, ushering, communion, teaching, cleaning up, food preparation etc.
3. During the studies taking down notes or going and praying with a visitor who is studying the bible will help the person come closer to God.
Conclusion
Revelation 2:19
I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.
God acknowledged this church for their service.
Matthew 25:21
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
As the master calls his servant a good and faithful servant lets strive to be a good and faithful servant in Gods eyes
Matthew 20:26
Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
As Jesus says whoever wants to be great should be a servant...
Lets be a servant.
Suggested Scriptures
1 Peter 4:10
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
Philippians 2:4-5
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.
Ephesians 6:7-8
7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men,
8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
1 Timothy 3:13
Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 6:2
Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them.
John 13:1-17
1 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.
3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;
4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
7 Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
8 "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
9 "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
10 Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you."
11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them.
13 "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am.
14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.
15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
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