"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1)
The word service means "the action of helping or doing work for someone."
Jesus, our Lord and Savior exemplified excellent service. He said, "...the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28)
The flesh hates service but loves to be served. True service involves humility. Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even to death on the cross (Philippians 2:8). Incredible! Jesus did not try to pull rank with God. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are co-equal. In John 13:2-17, we read the story of how Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. God the Son and the Son of God stooped down to wash the smelly feet of sinful men. Amazing!
You see, true service is rendered with anonymity. In service, the servant's personality, attributes, status, or features is not the issue or the focal point. True service seeks to satisfy the one who is being served. In fact, it involves relegating one's self to the background. And yes, as you may have rightly guessed, the flesh cannot stand that. Flesh desires to be the center of attraction. Flesh wants to be recognized. Flesh wants to be worshipped.
Will you humble yourself today and serve God wholeheartedly? Will you forget about yourself and serve God unconditionally? The Bible says in Hebrews 12:28 "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear."
We must serve God with reverence and fear. The whole duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13). True service is divine and that is why we need the help of the Holy Spirit. In serving, we must do so with the agape love of God, reaching out selflessly and prioritizing the welfare of the one we are serving. In other words, the goal of true service is the ultimate good of the one being served. It transcends the physical actions of service and flows from the heart of the server.
Presenting our bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable on to our God is our reasonable service. The flesh hates holiness; it cannot stand righteousness as it's main preoccupation is carnality and of course, sin.
We must serve God with reverence and fear. The whole duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13). True service is divine and that is why we need the help of the Holy Spirit. In serving, we must do so with the agape love of God, reaching out selflessly and prioritizing the welfare of the one we are serving. In other words, the goal of true service is the ultimate good of the one being served. It transcends the physical actions of service and flows from the heart of the server.
Presenting our bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable on to our God is our reasonable service. The flesh hates holiness; it cannot stand righteousness as it's main preoccupation is carnality and of course, sin.
True service puts God first and is done in such a way that God is honored and glorified.
"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:17). May the good Lord bless you as you endeavor to serve Him with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength.
Have a blessed day.
"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:17). May the good Lord bless you as you endeavor to serve Him with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength.
Have a blessed day.
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