SHARING BREAD
14 When Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw Peter's
mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she
got up and began to wait on him.
Matt
8:14-15 (NIV)
Jesus’ healing of Peter’s mother-in-law by His loving touch stirred
in her a desire for service. Don’t you
agree that the proper response from a heart that has been spiritually or physically
healed by the Master is willful and loving, grateful service? The behavior of a servant becomes every Christian. Those whom Christ honors by restoration must
remain humble as servants. Furthermore,
in Christ’s economy, every form of Christian service blesses those engaged in
it. It seems in giving we receive even more
than we give. God will be no man’s debtor. Scripture reminds us:
19 We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 (NIV)
Service to our Lord manifestly expresses our gratitude for
what He has done for us. Service is
merely love in action. Indeed, our love should
propel our feet to serve and strengthen our arms to do the task He calls us to! Remember, believer, how God demonstrated His love for us - we would
do well to do likewise:
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (NIV)
“‘I serve,’ should be the motto of all the members of the
royal family of heaven.” Charles H. Spurgeon
“Remember Whose you are and Whom you serve.” Oswald
Chambers
24 But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully
with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. 1 Sam 12:24 (NIV)
Scripture tell us as well that we are to serve our Lord with
gladness – it is to be our delight. Drudgery in our acts of service comes from
hearts whose focus is inward rather than upward. Every act of service we do for
others should be done as unto the Lord Jesus.
No keeping score – no paybacks due.
Therefore, when our eyes are fixed on Him – when our thoughts are on things
above rather than earthly things - our attitudes will follow suit. And once one has tasted and seen that the Lord
is good – standing firm in His will – hastening to do His bidding – desirous of
His pleasure - all the glitter and glam this world has to offer is as empty as
His tomb was and as bland as oatmeal without cinnamon! Just read what Solomon
has to say in Ecclesiastes. There is
nothing boring about the Master or His Way – He is anything but. Indeed, it is taking hold of the life that is
truly life.
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap
sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart
to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so
that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in
every good work. 9 As
it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his
righteousness endures forever." 2
Cor 9:6-9 (NIV)
“Maturity
is for ministry! We grow up in order to give out. It is not enough to keep
learning more and more. We must act on what we know and practice what we claim
to believe. Impression without expression causes depression. Study without
service leads to spiritual stagnation. Most of the time we’re more interested
in ‘serve us’ than service. We say, ‘I’m looking for a church that meets my
needs and blesses me,’ not ‘I’m looking for a place to serve and be a blessing.’
We expect others to serve us, not vice versa. But as we mature in Christ, the
focus of our lives should increasingly shift to living a life of service. The
mature follower of Jesus stops asking, ‘Who’s going to meet my needs?’ and
starts asking, ‘Whose needs can I meet?’”
Rick
Warren
Interestingly,
when Jesus tells us in Scripture that He is the way, He was not merely
referring to a manner of life or teaching but to Himself as the One who
empowers and enables us to live the way God desires. God is looking for the willing heart who will
take Him at His Word.
9 For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to
strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chron 16:9 (NIV)
“Those who serve God must serve Him in His own way, and in His
strength, or He will never accept their service. That which man doth, unaided by divine
strength, God can never own. The mere
fruits of the earth He casteth away; He will only reap that corn, the seed of
which was sown from heaven, watered by grace, and ripened by the sun of divine
love. God will empty out all that thou
hast before He will put His own into thee; He will first clean out the
granaries before He will fill them with the finest of the wheat……Your emptiness
is but the preparation for your being filled, and your casting down is but the
making ready for your lifting up.” C. H. Spurgeon
What I glean from this:
· The proper
response to my healed heart by the Master is loving service.
· Service
for Jesus is not to be done grudgingly rather cheerfully.
· As
believers we are to grow up – mature – produce fruit in keeping with our
repentance and it is to be as natural as the fruit produced on a tree.
