Service, Pt.3

  As a son: doing for God, motivated by love for God. There is balance in this individual's life; they understand that we do not prosper spiritually when we are either ahead of, or lagging behind, the Spirit of God. They can accomplish God's purposes in HIS time, without the (artificial) sense of panic that accompanies their more "driven" counterparts; they live in the great security of their true adoption by the Father, and their standing is not in question. They do not punish themselves, or allow others to do so; this comes from having true fellowship with God, not "pride of of place"; therefore, true humility may be demonstrated. And the confidence they feel in God's provision for their souls can be seen by others. If they have a fear, it is a fear of disappointing the God they know so dearly loves and cares for them.  They have learned the truth of, "If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged." (I Corinthians 11:31)
   And though we are warned not to use our "liberty" as a cloak for sin (Galatians 5:13), there is great  security in knowing that our truly adoptive Father will "...never leave thee nor forsake..." us (Hebrews 13:5).

Service... Pt.2

 There are three ways we see ourselves in service to God, and here we will look at one (and in my opinion, the least satisfying) way some are living the Christian life...
 1) As a slave: the primary motive is fear. The primary hope of such a believer is to escape punishment; as such, he never feels the loving embrace of his heavenly Father, only the danger of impending judgement if he fails to "perform".  These folks are more likely to fall prey to cults or "cult-like" churches. (I would note that those who come from families characterized as "dysfunctional" are more apt to fall into this; even as believers, they seek the approval denied to them by their earthly families. The world would say they suffer from low "self-esteem", a term I will not use, but rather the more proper term "self-image": seeing ourselves as "accepted in the beloved").  

Service...

   Service - whether to God or man, has always been a "hallmark" of Christianity. Jesus, the Son of God and God the son, the savior we adore, and who is our example, lived his life in service to God the Father. We who are called by his name should not be surprised, then, by the words of Romans 12:1: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service".

   Indeed, there will be a judgement for those things, according to II Corinthians 5:10 - "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."    (Note: bear in mind that this judgement is for the reward of the believer, not for one's salvation; the judgement for sin was borne by Jesus for us.)   That this judgement speaks to reward alone is made manifest in I Corinthians 3:13-15:   "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.    If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.    If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."  

   By and large, Baptists have held to this position – “once saved, always saved”;  though as Pastor Danny Farley has been known to comment, “heavy on the ‘once saved’”!

   Next: the manner in which we serve.

New Years' reflections...

   Happy New Year to all! 


   May this time be a benchmark for me. May I reflect on what life - and the Lord of life - brought me this year. These are the questions I'm asking myself:

    If it was not what I hoped for, what did I learn from those experiences? Did I seek to grow in grace from my troubles? If I was blessed, did I give glory to the one from whom all blessings flow?

   Did I turn the moments of my life into moments of worship? Did I keep God in my knowledge for as many moments as I could? Did I "acknowledge him in all my ways”? Have I moved closer to the goal "pray without ceasing"? 

   Did I "seek my own", or did I think of others first?

   Did I seek to forgive as I have been forgiven?

   Did I commit the ministries God gave me to His leading and keeping? Was I faithful? Did I hold to His truth, and show His love?

   Did I live in faith - or did I try to "create my own miracles"? Am I learning to be content with what He gave me, or was I ungrateful?

   Was HIS vision my vision? Or was I "nearsighted" again?

  May the new year bring me closer to Jesus; it will certainly bring His return closer to US!