Service is one theme that we sometimes consider during Lenten reflection.
Today we will read passages in the Bible that are related to service. Except
as otherwise noted, all passages are from The Amplified Bible.
Matthew 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, "be gone, Satan!
For it has been written, 'you shall worship the Lord your God, and Him alone
shall you serve.'"
Matthew 20:27-28 And whoever desires to be first among
you must be your slave--just as the Son of Man came not to be waited on but
to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many [the price paid to set
them free].
John 12:26 If anyone serves Me, he must continue to follow
Me [[Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.] to cleave steadfastly to Me,
conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying] and wherever
I am, there will My servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will
honor him.
1 Corinthians 12:5-7 (NLT) There are different kinds of
service in the church, but it is the same Lord we are serving. There are
different ways God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the
work through all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means
of helping the entire church.
Galations 5:12-14 12 I wish those who unsettle and confuse
you would go all the way and] cut themselves off! For you, brethren, were
[indeed] called to freedom; only [do not let your] freedom be an incentive
to your flesh and an opportunity or excuse [for selfishness], but through
love you should serve one another. For the whole Law [concerning human
relationships] is complied with in the one precept, You shall love your neighbor
as [you do] yourself.
Romans 12:4-9 For as in one physical body we have many
parts (organs, members) and all of these parts do not have the same function
or use, So we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ (the Messiah) and
individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one
another].Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according
to the grace given us, let us use them: [He whose gift is] prophecy, [let
him prophesy] according to the proportion of his faith; [He whose gift is]
practical service, let him give himself to serving; he who teaches, to his
teaching; He who exhorts (encourages), to his exhortation; he who contributes,
let him do it in simplicity and liberality; he who gives aid and superintends,
with zeal and singleness of mind; he who does acts of mercy, with genuine
cheerfulness and joyful eagerness. [Let your] love be sincere (a real
thing); hate what is evil [loathe all ungodliness, turn in horror from
wickedness], but hold fast to that which is good.
1 Timothy 6:1-2 LET ALL who are under the yoke as bond
servants esteem their own [personal] masters worthy of honor and fullest
respect, so that the name of God and the teaching [about Him] may not be
brought into disrepute and blasphemed. Let those who have believing
masters not be disrespectful or scornful [to them] on the grounds that they
are brothers [in Christ]; rather, they should serve [them all the better]
because those who benefit by their kindly service are believers and beloved.
Teach and urge these duties.
Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters; for either
he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted
to the one and despise and be [Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.] against the
other. You cannot serve God and mammon ([Hermann Cremer, Biblico-Theological
Lexicon.] deceitful riches, money, possessions, or [Joseph Thayer, A
Greek-English Lexicon.] whatever is trusted in).