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| Serving King and Kingdom ... |
April 6, 2010 |
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Greetings!
Easter is the conclusion of the Gospel message for Jesus on earth. He came, lived among us, died for us and rose to eternal life. Our first response to Easter is a choice to believe or doubt. In the first reading for this devotion, we read the gospel account of John recording the "doubting Thomas" of scripture. Thomas responded to the Easter message with doubt until He saw the resurrected Jesus. The choice you make to respond to Easter is equally important.
Once we choose Jesus and the truth of Easter then we must begin to follow Him in "spirit and truth". We must live our lives through His Holy Spirit and in the Truth of His Word. If not, we have just proclaimed Easter but not lived in the reality of it!
Jesus came to set us free from death, hell and the grave. He came to give us life but we must choose to receive the gift. Easter calls for our response to the gift of His life. Easter calls for a response to dedicate our life to Him. If we choose Jesus we must choose to live for and in Him. If not, we only have "mental agreement" with the truth of Easter and we lose the power of Easter... a new and abundant life that serves our King and His Kingdom. |
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The Choice to Believe
24Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." 26A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." 28Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" 29Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
~ John 20:24-29 ~
The Choice to Serve
26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave- 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
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Choose and Act
Once we make the choice to believe in Jesus Christ and the Easter message our next choice is to act. We must follow Him and attempt to be like Him. To be like Jesus we must become servants. To be like Jesus we have to see everything as ministry and service to God.
Service is not a duty but a lifestyle. Service is an outlook that places others above self. It is the attitude and character of Jesus! If you believe in Easter then believe in what Jesus said about Himself ...He came to serve!
I don't want you to think you have to be a pastor, apostle, prophet, evangelist or teacher to be a servant. Everyone is a servant. Everyone ministers. We just need to change our mind set and realize that every day is an opportunity to serve Jesus, our King, in the mundane and the marvelous.
Too often, we only desire to serve in some fantastic manner or ministry. The truth is that you are ministering and serving your King and His Kingdom when you live for and like Jesus wherever you are and in whatever you are doing. The response to Easter that blesses God is one that serves the King that died to serve you!
This week, look for Jesus among the marvelous and mundane moments of your life. Also, listen to the voice of the King and His instructions. Lastly, "do everything as unto the Lord and not man" (Ephesians 6:7-8). Live your life from a different and revolutionary perspective ... Serve others and serve King Jesus!
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For King and Kingdom,
Randy Martin |
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