Servants

Serving others- we call this sacrifice, when in truth it is a blessing.

1Co 9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

A servant unto all.

Mar 10:42  But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.

Mar 10:43  But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:

Mar 10:44  And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

Mar 10:45  For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Mar 9:35  And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

Do we truly comprehend this?

As we go about our lives struggling not to be treated as servants, we lose sight of our needing to be servants.

When we are asked to serve ANYONE, and I mean ANYONE how do we respond to that?  Do you serve them cheerfully? Or is there resentment?  Think about it seriously before you answer. The resentment doesn't have to be a burning rage of anger simmering under the surface.  The resentment can be teeny tiny a minor irritation, a tiny annoyance.  The resentment can be telling another days later in exasperation that people are asking you to serve them.  The exasperation can even be laughed at an attempt to hide feelings.  Seriously, we have to look at ourselves and be true to ourselves and seek forgiveness for our sinning ways- all of them. We can't hide behind the exterior we WANT to possess, we have to expose all of our errors. We have to confess our sins!

Do we want to be servants?  Truly, do we understand our need to be servants?

Rom 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.

Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Rom 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Rom 12:4  For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

Rom 12:5  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Rom 12:6  Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

Rom 12:7  Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

Rom 12:8  Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

Rom 12:9  Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

Rom 12:10  Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Rom 12:11  Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

Rom 12:12  Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Rom 12:13  Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Rom 12:14  Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

Rom 12:15  Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

Rom 12:16  Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Rom 12:17  Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

Rom 12:18  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Rom 12:19  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Rom 12:20  Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

Rom 12:21  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Read that, and read it again and again, and again.

If we are failing to live up to this picture of how we should be, we need to seek a closer walk with Christ, to acknowledge our guilt, our failings, and our need to repent.  We need to seek Christ in all things, we must seek the Holy Spirit. We must TRUST that God will perform in us any necessary work that He MAY know us and we may know Him and we may be HIS now and in eternity!

Please, Father God, please create in US clean hearts! Renew RIGHT SPIRITS in us! Please Father, please! All by the mercy and grace of our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST!

Now and forever.

Amen.