Ownership
In the second part of our Salvation series, we looked at the subject of “ownership.” As I immerse myself in this topic, I find myself reading those passages where it talks about us serving the living God from that perspective of us belonging to him. (1Corinthians 6:19-20)
“How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” Hebrews 9:14
“…even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28
“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…” Colossians 3:23
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace...” 1Peter 4:10
“No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.” 2Timothy 2:4
And one of my favorites: “20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” 2Timothy 2:20-21
We have to understand that we are not simply set free to do whatever we please and live however we want. The Lord purchased us at a great cost, we are His! If we go about to do our own will again, we go back into the sin of rebellion against the One who created us and set us free. The Son redeemed us from that, we stand in His service now, to do His business. And this begs the question, what business is that? Is it finance, real estate, e-commerce? This is the business of the Lord: that the Son of Man came “not to be served but to serve,” an act He illustrated to His disciples when He washed their feet after the Last Supper. (Matthew 20:28)
The question we should ask ourselves every day is this: Lord, how can we serve you today? For the Father is at work all the time, all around us, and so is the Son (John 5:17), and we as His servants must join in that business as long as we have breath in our lungs.
I love seeing so many of our church members do exactly that in the many creative ways the Lord has given them, whether through acts of kindness, serving at church, making cards or quilts, or opening their business for Bible studies, or through prayer or the giving of finances. Many are looking at what the Lord has given them and how He has enabled them and seek to use it for the Lord’s business: to serve one another. This is church! This is the body of Christ!
“How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” Hebrews 9:14
“…even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28
“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…” Colossians 3:23
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace...” 1Peter 4:10
“No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.” 2Timothy 2:4
And one of my favorites: “20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” 2Timothy 2:20-21
We have to understand that we are not simply set free to do whatever we please and live however we want. The Lord purchased us at a great cost, we are His! If we go about to do our own will again, we go back into the sin of rebellion against the One who created us and set us free. The Son redeemed us from that, we stand in His service now, to do His business. And this begs the question, what business is that? Is it finance, real estate, e-commerce? This is the business of the Lord: that the Son of Man came “not to be served but to serve,” an act He illustrated to His disciples when He washed their feet after the Last Supper. (Matthew 20:28)
The question we should ask ourselves every day is this: Lord, how can we serve you today? For the Father is at work all the time, all around us, and so is the Son (John 5:17), and we as His servants must join in that business as long as we have breath in our lungs.
I love seeing so many of our church members do exactly that in the many creative ways the Lord has given them, whether through acts of kindness, serving at church, making cards or quilts, or opening their business for Bible studies, or through prayer or the giving of finances. Many are looking at what the Lord has given them and how He has enabled them and seek to use it for the Lord’s business: to serve one another. This is church! This is the body of Christ!
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