What would you say to a Christian who bitterly said, I can worship God better by myself, apart from the church. They are His special treasure. Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. Editors Note: This post is adapted from "Why, God?" B What Does It Mean to Serve God? But whatever the reason, they are not serving. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. They were probably the minority group, numbers-wise. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, OT Prophets: Malachi 3:14 You have said 'It is vain (Malachi Mal Ml). Matt. Let love be genuine. I Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! From there, they went three days into the wilderness, found no water, and began to grumble (Exod. Romans 16:18 Verse Concepts English Standard Version Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! J There are no limits to what God can do. God hears and remembers everything said by everyone at all times, of course. Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. We are unable to fully serve God in this life due to sin, but in heaven "every curse will no longer be" (Revelation 22:3). What does the Bible say about being a servant / servanthood? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? What Does the Bible Say About Serving God? 1 Corinthians 12:5 Context Crossref Greek Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. Serve the Lord with gladness. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. But serving God is a distinguishing mark of the righteous person, whereas not serving God marks the wicked, who live for themselves. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition The Lockman Foundation, Related Topics: Character of God, Discipleship, Leadership, Missions, Pastors, Suffering, Trials, Persecution, Steve served as the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship from May, 1992 through his retirement in December, 2018. They were grumbling that God hadnt given them their fair share. 1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV / 358 helpful votes Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. The theme of Malachi is, I have loved you, says the Lord. , Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural, gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative, Gain made by violence, unjust gain, profit, Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural, To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to, Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular, Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct, A mass of persons, reg, organized for, war, a campaign. "The saddest thing in life is wasted talent." "Your talent is God's gift to you. Footwashing continues as a regular ceremony in a number of modern denominations, which literally obey Jesus command, you also ought to wash one anothers feet. Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. Pride or lack of it. Such conceit (lit., vainglory) is countered by counting others more significant than yourselves. Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it? And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. We want to experience God through the Bible we really do! 49 Bible verses about Serving God The Old Testament in the Bible offers many principles about earning and handling money in a righteous way. These people feared God and esteemed His name. that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?'" Bible Verses About Healing Jesus said to him, Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? What gives here? Joel 2:12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: Zechariah 7:3-6 And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years? For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. Outwardly, they went through the motions of fasting and humbling themselves before God. Read More. Dan. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. 5. Jesus is the paradigm of genuine spiritual progress: not a self-aggrandizing struggle for supremacy, but a deep love for God and neighbor shown in deeds of service. He contrasted the prosperity of the wicked with his own trials and concluded that he was following God in vain. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. We are citizens of heaven who are to hold all things loosely while on this earth. Hospitality was very important for early Christians, for most of them could not afford hotels (lodging houses) when traveling but depended on the provision of fellow believers. Dont give up serving the Lord! Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. Likewise, we are called to humbly serve others. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Others believe the language is figurative for the importance of serving one another, and that the act itself is not required. In other words, they would not be bought off with silver, because they did not value it above victory. They rather would have returned to slavery in Egypt than to trust God and endure hardship in the wilderness! And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Are we a biblical people, or do we just get our truths from our emotions or non-emotions? You believe that God is one; you do well. The sheep are commended for their great compassion for those in needfor the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger; for those who are naked, sick, or in prison. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God suppliesin order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. If theres nothing in it for you, why do it? 8:20). Lesson 34: You Gotta Serve Somebody (Romans 6:15-18) - bible.org Jesus asked why when He was on the cross, dying for the sins of the world. God is in control.God never makes a mistake.God cares for us.God allows things to happen in life that dont make sense to us but they do make sense to Him. The problem was their sinfully selfish, temporal perspective. 595-596). I read recently that 1,500 pastors a month in the United States are leaving the ministry. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. He Came to Serve Christ set the ultimate example of service and sacrifice when he condescended to us and submitted to death on our behalf. This is because we will be faced with opposing interests and will have to decide one way or the other. Article Images Copyright , Banish the Unofficial Luggage of Foster Care, When You Ask "Why, God?" But the guy who arrogantly defies You is living a happy life. Form here means the true and exact nature of something, possessing all the characteristics and qualities of something. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. Bible Verses About Ten Commandments Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Far from the Christian life being enslaving, it is the only way to resist the various slaveries offered by the world. Such radical love is rare, so Paul proceeds to show its supreme reality in the life of Christ (Phil. 11 Top Bible Verses-Serving God One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. He is in the business of sustaining. 5:146:7; Isa. Often, they feel unappreciated and used. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Read these 11 Top Bible Verses-Serving God 1 Samuel 12:24 Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. What accord has Christ with Belial? God is seen as glorious when all our serving is moment-by-moment receiving from God's supply. Do You Serve God with Gladness? | Desiring God 10 Key Bible Verses on Serving 1 Corinthians 12:5 - Bible Hub Note that Group B, those who serve God, are called righteous, whereas Group A are called wicked (3:18). K When we give Jesus Christ His rightful place as Lord of our lives, His lordship will be . Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.. Motivation is everything when it comes to obeying and serving God. Be careful here! All that Paul says is embraced by the call to love. Fearing God gives us the courage to confront sin, even if people dont like us for doing so. Those who speak must not propound their own ideas but faithfully declare Gods words (oracles). 1 Corinthians 3:9 church evangelism. Too many pastors today fear what people think of them more than they fear what God thinks of them! He notices all that we think or say. Bible Verses About Strength V No one comes to the Father except through me. God often calls you to do that which is beyond your abilities and resources. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. Love for the Lord Jesus, who gave Himself on the cross for me, should be the motive behind everything that I do for Him. 25 Best Bible Verses About Serving Others - Encouraging Scriptures 10 Steps to Healing from Spiritual Trauma, 10 Things You Should Consider before You Drink Alcohol, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. They went even farther, probably in sarcastic mockery. I encourage you to meditate on that Psalm whenever youre tempted in this manner. 2:7). It never is. 15:3). In which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience, And you were dead in the trespasses and sins. 13:4; cf. Opportunity for the flesh means opportunity to follow your fallen, sinful desires and act contrary to Gods moral laws. When Paul says the whole law is fulfilled in the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself, and when he uses that command as the reason why the Galatians are to serve one another (Gal. The gospel plan of salvation is revealed in the scriptures - the means whereby men are made righteous before God (Romans 1:16-17). When God commands us to give, it's not because He needs the money. 8:1120; 12:35]). So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. You know, it is normal and natural to ask God why. When shall I come and appear before God? In some cases, they drop out of church altogether, claiming that they can worship God better by avoiding the church. Why Is Valuing God's Word So Important? The human authors wrote exactly what God wanted them to write, and the result was the perfect and holy Word of God (Psalm 12:6; 2 Peter 1:21). They needed to see things from Gods eternal perspective and serve Him by faith. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. But it shall not be so among you. When we ask God our why questions, His response is typically something akin to this, My child, you would not understand even if I explained it to you. Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Inwardly they were thinking, This religion stuff is a drag! Several recent surveys revealed that 85 percent of pastors said that they are weary of dealing with problem people. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. But he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Such serving is happy. M Then Jesus *said to him, "Go, Satan! What should feel alive often feels confusing and boring and irrelevant. This article is part of the Key Bible Verses series. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. So how about this: just trust Me., In the midst of this tragedy, may we trust God and pray that He would use this somehow and some way to further His Kingdom. Id fix this problem if I were in charge! What arrogance, to think that somehow Id do a better job of running the universe than the Lord of hosts! Paul wrote this magnificent theology to encourage the Philippians to consider other peoples interests first (see Phil. Bible Verses About Strength Rewards: We can also be motivated by God-given rewards in this life (Mark 10:28-31) and glorify God in the end. Of the messenger, majesty, and grace of Christ. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Read More. And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Is he not the God of Gentiles also? We will probably never know the answer to our whys this side of heaven. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 Reasons Why Obedience to God Is Important - Learn Religions I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Bible Verses About Fear God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.. That's why we should serve Him cheerfully: Serve the Lord with gladness! Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.. They grumbled at the report of the spies about the giants in the land, and talked about appointing a leader to return to Egypt (Numbers 14). There is some debate as to whether this mind-set is something Christians receive by virtue of being united to Christ (which is yours in Christ Jesus), or whether it is to be based on the model of Christ (ESV footnote: which was also in Christ Jesus). That night, the mans spirit broke. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. They asked, What profit is it that we have walked in mourning before the Lord of hosts? (3:14). He felt that God had abandoned them. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Q We need to be careful about how we present the gospel. 14:26-38). The second did it out of love for her mother. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! ; cf. Motivations for Serving God - GraceLife John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.John 12:46 - I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.Titus 2:12 - Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.2 Timothy 1:7 - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.Galatians 2:20 - I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;Psalms 127:1 - (A Song of degrees for Solomon.) D I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Remarkably, Christ did not imagine that having equality with God (which he already possessed) should lead him to hold onto his privileges at all costs. This is the second death, the lake of fire. That's a guarantee! In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Read More. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. The key is to take that same level of concern and apply it also to the interests of others**. Rev. Years ago, an elderly missionary couple who had served for years in Africa, was returning to New York City to retire. The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The promise of blessing to those who fear God. The people in Malachis day had grown indifferent to Gods great love. Is it a position, a role, or a mindset? As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. Our motivation for obedience is love: If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 49 Bible Verses about Serving God Most Relevant Verses Matthew 6:24 Verse Concepts "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. But they should also remember this: You will be dead a long time. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. There is always a temptation to be like Pauls opponents in Philippians 1:17 and operate in a spirit of selfish ambition, looking to advance ones own agenda. 15:3; and note on 1 Tim. BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY:"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?' Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. We want some fun out of life!. 53:3.). We all grieved and mourned the brutal, unimaginable horror that took place November 5, 2017, at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs. And he sat down and called the twelve. Or am I trying to please man? For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 21 Bible Verses About Serving God With Joy (Serve in Gladness) He had delivered them from bondage in a dramatic and miraculous way through the Red Sea. Bible verses related to Why We Need God from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance.