Serve – Page 3 – ♥️ Take heart!

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23; NLT).

I love you, Lord,
Through thick and thin.
I want to serve,
And not to sin;

To turn away
From selfishness,
And comfort others
In distress;

To follow daily,
Bear my cross,
And trust in you
Through gain and loss:

For you’re my Lord,
My God, my Light;
My Bread, my Way,
My Truth, my Life.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6; NLT).

References

Trust in God and trust also in me (John 14:1; NLT).

“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed (John 20:28; NLT).

I am the light of the world (John 8:12; NLT).

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35; NLT).

I am the living bread that came down from heaven (John 6:51; NLT).

Seek Christ

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I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you (Luke 11:9; NLT).

Seek Christ; meet Christ;
Follow him.

Learn his teaching;
Do not sin.

Praise and thank him
Every day.

Love him; serve him;
Always pray.

Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).

References

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23; NLT).

Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires (Romans 6:12; NLT).

In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry (Ephesians 4:26; NIV).

Encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:14-23; NIV).

Love and wisdom

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Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ (Ephesians 5:2; NLT).

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding (Proverbs 4:7; NIV).

Love and wisdom
Are not rationed:
We can grow them
Everywhere!

All it takes
Is peace and justice;
All we need
Is humble prayer.

With our smiles, our words,
Our service,
We can nurture
Every soul,

Spreading Yahweh’s
Love and wisdom,
Till all people
Are made whole!

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away (Revelation 21:4; NIV).

References

Anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).

He loves us with unfailing love; the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever (Psalm 117:2; NLT).

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).

Love your neighbour as yourself (Leviticus 19:18; NLT).

Love the stranger (Deuteronomy 10:19; NKJV).

Show love to foreigners (Deuteronomy 10:19; NLT).

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:44-8; NIV).

When they came to the place that is called called The Skull, there they crucified him… And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:33-4; ESV).

Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NLT).

His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen! (Isaiah 9:2, 4-7; NLT).

Remember

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Remember the LORD your God (Deuteronomy 8:18; NLT).

Rejoice in the LORD your God! (Joel 2:23; NLT).

Remember to rejoice in God,
To trust, and walk beside, our God.

Remember to depend on God,
To serve, and to confide, in God.

Remember to beware of God,
To bow, and be in awe of, God.

Remember to revere our God,
To worship, and adore, our God.

O LORD, you are our God (2 Chronicles 14:11; NLT).

I will proclaim the name of the LORD; how glorious is our God! (Deuteronomy 32:3; NLT).

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things (1 Chronicles 29:11; NLT).

References

Remember this and keep it firmly in mind: The LORD is God both in heaven and on earth, and there is no other (Deuteronomy 4:39; NLT).

Beware lest thou forget the Lord thy God (Deuteronomy 6:12; BES).

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again – my Savior and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you (Psalm 42:5-6; NLT).

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights (Habakkuk 3:17-19; NLT).

Fear God (1 Peter 2:17, NLT).

As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? (Hebrews 12:7; NLT).

Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God (Romans 14:10; NLT).

Remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do (Ecclesiastes 11:9; NLT).

Jesus is God

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“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed (John 20:28; NLT).

I love you, Lord; you are my strength (Psalm 18:1; NLT).

My Lord, my God:
I cling to you;
Trust you,
And believe in you.

My Lord, my God:
I follow you;
Need you,
And depend on you.

My Lord, my God:
I cherish you;
Praise you,
And rejoice in you.

My Lord, my God:
I worship you;
Serve you,
And belong to you.

I belong to the Lord (Isaiah 44:5; NLT).

References

We look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed (Titus 2:13; NLT).

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word (Hebrews 1:3; NIV).

The Father and I are one (John 10:30; NLT).

As they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him (Matthew 28:9; NLT).

Contemplation

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We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).

Contemplation, Yahweh God,
Is waiting in your love;
It’s sharing in your love,
And praying in your love.

Contemplation, Son of Man,
Is walking in your love;
It’s serving in your love,
And resting in your love.

Contemplation, Holy Ghost,
Is dancing in your love;
It’s sighing in your love,
And weeping in your love.

Contemplation, Elohim,
Is living in your love;
It’s fading in your love,
And dying in your love.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).

Why have you abandoned me?

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My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? (Psalm 22:1; NLT).

“Why have you cast me aside?
I’m the servant of all!”

“Why have you left me alone,
And don’t hear when I call?”

“Why have you given me up,
Though my life has been hard?”

“I’ve done the best that I could,
But my way has been barred.”

“Why have you thrown me away?
Father, please heed my cry.”

“Why have you left me behind,
When I’m going to die?”

“Why have you let my hand go
As the end draws so near?”

Jesus, you suffered for us –
And we know you are here.

Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps (1 Peter 2:21; NIV).

Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” (Matthew 14:27; NLT).

References:

He has barred my way with blocks of stone (Lamentations 3:1-9; NIV).

Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me” (John 20:29; NLT).

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin (Hebrews 4:15; NLT).

Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT).

Be sure of this: I am with you always (Matthew 28:20; NLT).

Additional readings:

Isaiah 53
Lamentations 3
Psalm 23
Mark 4
Matthew 14
John 11

Jesus’ way

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Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he [Jesus] said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34; NLT).

Introduction
Being a Christian means following Christ’s teaching and lived example, in order to grow more and more like him, until we become one with him.

I call myself a Christian, so I’m asking myself some very basic questions. The response to each question is clarified by Biblical quotations.

Do I love everyone?
If my love isn’t inclusive, I’m not behaving like a Christian, because the Bible says:

Love your neighbour as yourself (Leviticus 19:18; NLT).
Love the stranger (Deuteronomy 10:19; NKJV).
Show love to foreigners (Deuteronomy 10:19; NLT).
Love your enemies (Matthew 5:44; NLT).
May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else (1 Thessalonians 3:12; NIV).

Do I judge others?
If I do, I’m not behaving like a Christian, because the Bible says:

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged (Matthew 7:1; NLT).

Am I kind?
If I’m unkind to others, I’m not behaving like a Christian, because:

A servant of the LORD must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone (2 Timothy 2:24; NLT).

Do I forgive those who hurt me?
If I nurse grudges, I’m not behaving like a Christian, because Jesus teaches:

Forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too (Mark 11:25; NLT).

Do I serve others?
If I don’t serve others the best I can, I’m not behaving like a Christian, because Jesus says:

Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else (Mark 9:35; NLT).
Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others (Mark 10:45; NLT).

Do I try to follow Christ’s example?
If I don’t genuinely try to do this, I’m not being a Christian, because we are to:

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ (Ephesians 5:2; NLT).

Am I growing more like Christ?
If I’m not growing more like Christ, however slowly, I need to ask myself whether I really am a Christian at all:

We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).

Conclusion
Perhaps, in the end, I only need to ask myself one question:

Do I believe it’s okay to judge, look down on, control, discriminate against, dominate, exploit, abuse, reject, exclude, hate, or hurt others in any way whatsoever?

Strange as it may sound, if my answer to this question is, ‘Yes’, then I may still have a faith of some kind. It might even be a religious faith. However, it is definitely not Christianity, because:

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out (1 Corinthians 13:4-6; NLT).

The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22; NLT).

References

Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him (Philippians 3:8-9; NLT).

Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:41; NIV).

Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me (Matthew 25:45; NIV).

Live like Jesus here in this world (1 John 4:17; NLT).

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5; NIV).