Tag: serve the Lord

Do Not Love This World

Do Not Love This World

The Bible gives us some helpful information about the world that we live in, and we do well to pay attention to it.

No one can serve two masters, because either he will hate one and love the other, or be loyal to one and despise the other.  (Mt 6:24 ISV)

The wisdom of the Scriptures is apparent here in reminding us that no one can serve two masters.  If we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer, then we serve only Him.  To try to do otherwise is folly.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.  (1 Joh 2:15 NIV)

We’re advised that we should not love the world or anything in the world.  This is not speaking about people, but about material things and the world’s way of valuing what is important. 

The most important thing in life is to serve the Lord and to maintain a vital and living relationship with the Lord Jesus.

. . . for whoever is born of God overcomes the world, and the victory that overcomes the world is our faith.  (1 Joh 5:4 MEV)

We’re reminded that we who have accepted Christ as our Savior are born of God, and we are overcomers!  Glory to God!  What do we overcome?  The world and its systems and its empty values.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  (Joh 16:33 NIV) Jesus is speaking to us in this verse above in John 16.  He says that in this world we’ll have trouble.  But He reminds us that He has overcome the world.  It is Jesus’ victory that makes His followers overcomers.  Rejoice in this truth today.

God-Ordained Sights & Sounds

God-Ordained Sights & Sounds

Why do some believers hear things and see things that others do not hear and see? 

“And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. 10 So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.’  (Ac 22:9-10) 

In the above instance, the people who were traveling with Saul (who later became Paul, the apostle) saw the supernatural light that appeared to Saul but they did not hear God’s voice speaking to him.  God was giving Saul directions to follows. So the only one who needed to hear the Lord was Saul.

And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.  (Ac 9:7)

In this verse, those who accompanied Saul heard the Lord’s voice speaking to Saul but they didn’t see anything.  In Acts 9:7, Saul was again being told what to do next but we don’t know why God allowed the others to hear God’s voice in this instance.

“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, 13 at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me.”  (Ac 26:12-13)

This account in the Bible is where Paul is telling King Agrippa about the heavenly light, brighter than the sun, which he and his friends saw on the road to Damascus.  This was a genuine physical AND spiritual encounter that Paul had with the Lord.

As we diligently work to serve the Lord, and spend time studying the Word and drawing near to God’s presence, we may experience God-ordained sights and sounds which other people don’t experience.  Such things are out of the ordinary for most believers, but they are clearly controlled by God. 

Ask God to give you His wisdom and insight into understanding such an event if it should happen to you.  Don’t be afraid of it, but diligently seek the Scriptures and God’s wisdom to make sure that it lines up with the teachings of the Lord in the New Testament.  Determine what God’s wants you to do or to change as a result of your experience.  If it does not agree with Biblical teachings, then simply put it out of your mind and heart.

For those of us who do not experience these types of incidents, it doesn’t mean that we are any less of a follower of Jesus Christ than any other believer.  It simply means that every individual person’s relationship with the Lord is unique and special.  Value your relationship with the Lord and draw near to Him through prayer, Bible reading, meditation on the Word, and fellowship with other believers.  You are blessed!

Are You a Crown?

Are You a Crown?

Welcome!  This meditation is for all believers—men as well as women.

An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.  (Proverbs 12:4 NKJV)

In this verse, the words excellent wife mean a wife of valor.  Valor means bravery, courage, heroism, boldness, daring, fortitude, nerve, and pluck.  This is one with determination and resolve.  This is a person of honor.

This honorable person’s determination and resolve could be about many different things: 

  • To serve the Lord with joy and gladness (Psalm 2:11; 100:2; Colossians 2:4)
  • To bring only honor and glory to the Name of the Lord (Psalm 66:2; 1 Tim. 1:17; 6:1; Rev. 7:12; 19:1)
  • To be an instrument of peace in all situations (Numbers 6:26; 25:12; Psalm 34:14; 37:37; Prov. 3:17; 12:20; 16:7; Isa. 26:3; Rom. 12:17, 18; 2 Cor. 5:18, 19)
  • To bless their family, friends, and neighbors and not to curse them with their words (Prov. 11:11; Ezek. 34:26; Rom. 15:29; Gal. 3:14; 1 Pet. 3:9; James 3:8-11)
  • To build their home and not to destroy it (Proverbs 14:1)
  • To be hard-working and consistent on behalf of their family (Prov. 31:10-31)
  • To be a light in the darkness (Ps. 112:4; Isa. 58:10; John 8:12; Rom. 13:12; Ephes. 5:8-10)
  • To be a blessing to their spouse (Prov. 31:10-31)
  • To serve their family (Prov. 31:10-31)

This is a beautiful picture of a person of valor who loves the Lord and chooses to live for Him every day.  This person ministers out of the strength that they receive from their relationship with Jesus, their Savior and Redeemer, their Groom—to whom this honorable person is a Crown!  Such a person has a servant’s heart.  

Since the entire body of believers in Christ make up the bride of Christ, ALL Christians should strive to live like this—not only women!  Be blessed and be a blessing today!

Greatness Through Servanthood

Greatness Through Servanthood

Yet it shall not be so with you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.  And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.  (Matt 20:28)

The word ransom signifies a release from slavery or captivity brought about by the payment of a price.  Jesus willingly provided His own life as a ransom for us—in obedience to His Father’s plan to provide salvation to all mankind.

We have been released from slavery to sin.  We are free now to serve the Lord in holiness, humility and righteousness!

Living a life of true humility means that we direct all glory and praise to God.  We willingly give Him all of the credit for any good things that we may have accomplished in life.  We rejoice in His ways and His truths.  We are glad that in giving God all of the credit, He removes every opportunity for stumbling far from us. 

Truly, what do any of us have that we didn’t receive?  (1 Cor 4:6-7)  Everything that we have is a free gift—whether skills, pedigree, possessions, or wit. 

True greatness—eternal greatness—only comes through serving Christ and our Heavenly Father by the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Happily, we have free will so that we may make the choice to serve the Lord of Glory.  Hallelujah!