01/13/2020
God sent His Son, Jesus died for us, we accepted Him as our Lord, and now we are set free from our sin... so what is left for us to do? Some say “nothing!”, that all of this, including eternity in God’s house, is simply a gift. They are right in a way, because it truly is a gift, but once we have accepted these things, it is our place to give thanks for them, and appreciate by our love and service, the efforts of the giver. In many worldly situations we are indebted to the one who gives us a gift, and in faith we feel the same. The difference is that on earth we serve out of obligation, but in faith we serve out of love.
“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Romans 6:22-23 KJV
I chose this translation purposely today because it uses the word servant rather than slave to describe who we have become to God. Most translations use this word, but the English Standard Version uses the word slave. It is hard for me to reconcile the idea of God requiring us to become His slaves when His greatest commandment reads....
“"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-6 ESV
This is the first commandment and is not predicated on service, but on love; a heartfelt love. Our service is a byproduct that we choose to give out of thankfulness, and as a demonstration of our love for God. Listen to the people of Israel as they respond to Joshua regarding their desire to serve God...
“Then Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him." And they said, "We are witnesses."”
Joshua 24:22 ESV
In fact they were thankful for all that God had done for them, and in response to that provision, and protection, they loved God... and wanted to serve Him. Today I ask you to look, just as the Israelites did in the time of Joshua, at all that God has done for you, and promises to do for you in the future. I ask you three simple questions... “Does God not love you, is He not worthy of your love in return, and do you wish to serve Him?”
“Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods, for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed. And the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God."”
Joshua 24:16-18 ESV
My questions were simple, but they do require us to be honest about God’s dealings in our life. We can’t give the glory for our provision to happenstance, or chalk up the protection we receive against our enemies to our own strength, or good luck in battle. We must recognize God as the ultimate provider and protector in our lives, and know that He does all of this because He loves us, and that He loves us to such a great degree...
“"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 ESV
Who do we love that much? Would it not be easier to give ourselves rather than to offer up our son? Ask yourself who you love so much that you would offer your own son’s life for them. How many have faced the death of a loved one and cried out in prayer “Take ME Lord! But spare my _______!” You can replace the blank with anyone you wish; would it be your son, daughter, wife, mother, father, friend? Who’s life would you plead for? One thing I am rather certain of though, and that is this... you would not replace the word “ME” in this sentence with anyone else’s name but your own.
So God loves us, and He gave His Son for us... now what do we do? We thank Him, and we want to serve Him with all we are to show Him our own love and gratitude for everything He has done! Think of all the things you do for those you love here on earth, and then think about what you would do for the one who has given them breath, and placed them in your life.
God doesn’t command us to give Him anything except our love. We are under no obligation from Him for anything but that! Yet it is enough, because all else we give out of our love for Him... behaving justly, being kind, humble, thanking Him, praising, worshiping, and walking with Him. None of these are we obligated to render... we do them all out of love, and our desire to be like Him, and His Son Jesus.
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Micah 6:8 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for all your many blessings, and for doing everything you do for me each day because you love me. Thank you Holy Father for allowing me to experience your unending love, and to love you in return. Thank you for showing me that you provide for me, protect me, and prosper me, to satisfy your love for me, and for your glory. Help me Lord to love you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Accept my gifts of thanksgiving, praise, worship, and all the others, as my way of showing you how much I love you. Teach me to do this just as you do every loving things for me... without obligation or expectation other than love. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who loves without bounds, and was willing to sacrifice Your Son to redeem me. Praised be your name for every good thing! Great are you in love, kindness, and goodness! Mighty are you my defender who stands before me against all evil for your love’s sake. Merciful are you who heals me, and whose Son cries for the dead amongst us, even knowing they will be raised by your will. Gracious are you who gives your grace through Jesus so that I might receive your undeserved redemption from sin and death. I worship you Father because I love you, and place you high above all else in my life. Hear this my prayer that you should know my love for you, and see into my heart that declares it now. Receive my love that feeds my desire to serve you now, and forevermore.
“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.”
1 John 4:16-17 ESV
Rich Forbes