It was Jesus who exemplified service when he took a towel and a basin of water and washed the feet of His twelve disciples (John 13:5). He said so clearly, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…” (Matthew 20:28) and “I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:27).
Every great leader in the Bible exemplified service to God. The Apostle Paul’s most common title for himself was “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ.” Peter, James, Jude, John, Daniel, Elijah, Nehemiah and Isaiah all called themselves the same thing. Mary, when presented by the angel with the news of Jesus’ upcoming birth, responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38).
Revelation 4:11 says, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” It is this worthiness of God that lies at the heart of everything and is the preeminent reason why we serve Him.
In Romans 12:1, the Apostle Paul writes, “I urge you, therefore, in view of God’s mercy to you, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice to God, which is your reasonable service of worship.” In light of Christ’s sacrifice to us on the cross and His mercy to us, serving Jesus Christ with all of our hearts and doing so with joy is our only reasonable response to Him.
In Matthew 10:39, Jesus points out that whoever wishes to save his life [by not serving Christ] will lose it – but whoever loses their life for my sake will find their life. Jesus was saying that the person who loses their life in the service of Christ will find the real meaning for their existence and a true joy and satisfaction in living that nothing in this world can duplicate.
To serve in this way requires discipline, time management and prioritization. It also requires humility and a sacrificial attitude. Servants know that the ultimate objective of all service is to become a fully devoted follower of Christ and to help others to become one also.
Serving God does not end when we leave the church building – in many ways, it is just beginning. As Paul commands us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart...” (Colossians 3:23). Therefore, fully devoted followers sacrificially serve God everywhere – at work, at home, at church, in their communities, and with all of their life – their time, their talents, and their treasure. Don’t waste your lives pursuing the “trinkets” of this world – money, power, prestige, notoriety – instead pursue true meaning and satisfaction in life in the service of the risen Messiah!
(excerpted from "Becoming a Fully Devoted Follower of Christ")
Please click on the links to the right for information about ways to serve at Grace Bible Church.
Every great leader in the Bible exemplified service to God. The Apostle Paul’s most common title for himself was “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ.” Peter, James, Jude, John, Daniel, Elijah, Nehemiah and Isaiah all called themselves the same thing. Mary, when presented by the angel with the news of Jesus’ upcoming birth, responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38).
Revelation 4:11 says, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” It is this worthiness of God that lies at the heart of everything and is the preeminent reason why we serve Him.
In Romans 12:1, the Apostle Paul writes, “I urge you, therefore, in view of God’s mercy to you, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice to God, which is your reasonable service of worship.” In light of Christ’s sacrifice to us on the cross and His mercy to us, serving Jesus Christ with all of our hearts and doing so with joy is our only reasonable response to Him.
In Matthew 10:39, Jesus points out that whoever wishes to save his life [by not serving Christ] will lose it – but whoever loses their life for my sake will find their life. Jesus was saying that the person who loses their life in the service of Christ will find the real meaning for their existence and a true joy and satisfaction in living that nothing in this world can duplicate.
To serve in this way requires discipline, time management and prioritization. It also requires humility and a sacrificial attitude. Servants know that the ultimate objective of all service is to become a fully devoted follower of Christ and to help others to become one also.
Serving God does not end when we leave the church building – in many ways, it is just beginning. As Paul commands us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart...” (Colossians 3:23). Therefore, fully devoted followers sacrificially serve God everywhere – at work, at home, at church, in their communities, and with all of their life – their time, their talents, and their treasure. Don’t waste your lives pursuing the “trinkets” of this world – money, power, prestige, notoriety – instead pursue true meaning and satisfaction in life in the service of the risen Messiah!
(excerpted from "Becoming a Fully Devoted Follower of Christ")
Please click on the links to the right for information about ways to serve at Grace Bible Church.