For even the Son of Man came not to have service rendered to Him, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. ~Mark 10:45 (AMP)
Jesus was our example as to how we are to live in every aspect of our lives. Throughout the scriptures we read that He came to serve, He laid down His life, He only did what He saw the Father doing and He gave Himself as a ransom for many. Jesus was a giver and a humble one at that. He did not just give some of His resources, He gave it all. He served God and He served man and became our example to do the same. In Galatians 5:13-14 we read “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (NIV) The alternative to indulging our flesh is to serve one another in humble love. The Lord tells us in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 “In the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant…lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.”
(ESV) We see this around us every day. People are scratching and fighting and backbiting to get what they want because there is no freedom outside of living in Christ Jesus. They are enslaved by their own selfish nature. We are supposed to stand firm against that nature and walk by the Spirit. We are told in Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (NIV) The only way we are going to have any freedom in this life and hold onto it is to walk like Jesus did. Scripture confirms to us that as He is, so are we in the earth.
In Galatians 5:6 the Lord tells us “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (NIV) Think about that…the ONLY thing that counts. Our possessions do not count, our education does not count, where we live or what we do for a living does not count, the ONLY thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Everything we do and everything we say, and every motivation of our heart should be an expression of our love for God and for mankind. God does not want loving and serving others to be a hobby in the life of a believer. He wants it to be a habit. That lifestyle is the foundation of our faith, and it is what makes us disciples of Jesus Christ. Every day we have on earth is filled with purpose because God created us for a purpose and just like Jesus, our purpose begins with loving and serving others. Ephesians 1:11 teaches us “In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will.” (NIV) The Lord ordains our steps as we walk out our destiny and scripture confirms that our destiny was predetermined by God for us. That means God has prepared opportunities for us to love and serve others throughout our lives here on earth. Fill your day with random acts of kindness, act on whatever the Lord puts in your heart to do for others and serve them in love. But do not go into it blind. Expect obstacles. The Lord says that everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted but that shouldn’t stop us from fulfilling His purposes for our lives today!
But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. ~Exodus 9:16 (NIV)
What is God putting on your heart today to do to love and serve others?
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