2002-03-10 - Passages about Service

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).

Jan

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