A Choice!
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Destined to Serve
Destined to Serve
“If they listen and obey God, they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives. All their years will be pleasant.
We live in a day and age where Power, prestige, fame and position top the ranks of the worlds most desired!
The Words of our Lord and Savior tell a very different story!
In a discourse about the motive of the religious leaders of the day
But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
The Greek word “seen” here is the word meaning a spectacle!
Miriam Webster Dictionary defines it this way: a dramatic or public display designed to draw attention!
Man loves the lime light! The problem is that just as quickly the spotlight shines that it grow dim and unfulfilling!
And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever.
Jesus give us the answer to the dilemma of our day
But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.
And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
We have witnessed this time-after-time as the rich and famous come tumbling down
And Jesus called them to Him and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men hold them in subjection [tyrannizing over them].
Not so shall it be among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant,
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].
The Apostle Paul reminds us in his letter to the Philippians
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Satan knew that these areas were a weakness of man. During the temptation of our Lord he plaid this card
It is interesting here to note that the Greek word translated “G]glory” is the word meaning “a philosophical opinion standing midway between knowledge and certainty.” More literally, what one believes about the proposition!
What was more important to our Savior? Temporal control over the physical world with its fading glory or eternal regin in everlasting glory?
Remember this verse?
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
He was every bit man and had the same temptation draws as each of us…
This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
Remember the verse in Philippians?
“He humbled Himself and became obedient to to the point of death, even the death of the cross!”
WOW! He :BECAME OBEDIENT!”
A choice, look again at verse 7
but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
“He made Himself of no reputation!” Quite a contrast to those who are pursuing a path to the limelight!
Notice that the writer of Hebrews is giving us the answer to out lesson today!
Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Many would shun the tile servant for it denotes a life of loss and labor! That is the furthest from the truth!
We are not the “slaves of God” as our local friends would describe it…we are bondservants to the King!
“A bondservant is one owned by another. They do not have anything that is their own—even their time belongs to their master. They wake up each day seeking to know and do the will of their master above all else. Do we live to do the Lord's will, doing “all things for the sake of His gospel””
The word is Dulos - one who is subservient to, and entirely dependent upon and at the disposal of his master by choice!
But if the servant plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’
then his master shall bring him to the judges. He shall also bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever.
A choice we must all make! Serve the Lord or go free into the depths of sin!
God mentions this about the life of Christ
He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities.
In every instance of the occurrence of the word, being God’s servant is the most honorable position!
Such a concept was unthinkable for a Roman citizen who valued freedom above all else! So it is today. Man is flooding his life with every unimaginable sin know and claiming that he is free when in reality he is a slave to himself!
As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.
Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
We often hear this verse today but never in regards to the matter of sin for which it was intended!
To appreciate what it means to be freed from the slavery of sin, we must understand what is taking place when we are enslaved to sin. It is obvious in this text, that Jesus recognizes these people do not understand the seriousness of their condition, and the seriousness of what it means to be a slave to sin. There is a tendency for us to think of ourselves, as fairly good people, and certainly these Jews lived moral lives, but it did not change the fact they were enslaved to sin.
Let me ask you today, are you a dolos for God? Have you given up your wayward pursuits and surrendered to the King?
“If they listen and obey God, they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives. All their years will be pleasant.