Based on “Christ, Our Example” by Pastor Mark Balmer; 8/7-8/10,
Message #6058; Daily Devotional #5 - “Saved to Serve”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction): This week’s lesson focused on the importance of service in the Christian life. As Christ followers, we have been given the opportunity to live a new life. The gift of eternal life is given by the Lord by grace alone. As we walk in our new calling, we must be aware that we are to serve our God and that there are jobs that God has intended for us to complete (Ephesians 2:10). God referred to men like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Isaiah as servants throughout the Old Testament. Isn’t it exciting to be able to count ourselves in that type of company?
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): The Christ follower is “saved to serve” as described in Hebrews: How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Hebrews 9:14) Being a servant requires absolute obedience to a master. “But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete." (Luke 6:49) The servant should serve in humility as directed by Jesus, “So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ ” (Luke 17:10) Finally, as servants to our Master in heaven we should be loyal to Him above all other authority: Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10) Jesus stressed the importance of being loyal to one master alone. "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other…” (Matthew 6:24)
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): Our calling is to enjoy serving God and in the process, glorify Him. Once reborn, the source of the Christ follower’s joy is in faithfully serving the purpose for which we were called by our God to serve. Worldly goals can still be applicable in the Christ follower’s life as long as they are superseded by God’s goals for us.
Cultivating (Additional Reading): Luke 6; Galatians 1
WSK
Calvary Chapel of Melbourne; 2955 Minton Road; W. Melbourne, FL 32904; 321-952-9673
All Bible references are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.