“But if you’re treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God.”
Our service to God is ultimately for God alone. We play to an audience of One. It’s Him we must please. Him alone. Those who make it their ambition to please men fall into a trap.
“The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.”
Proverbs 29.25 NKJV
People pleasers can never perform to the level of people’s expectations and are left disappointed and bitter. Your service to God stands alone without regard for human approval. You must not intentionally seek to antagonize others, but simply place your focus where it belongs… on being “a good servant” of Jesus Christ, no matter the cost. Some will offer their support. Others will not. Most will not even notice and a few may even oppose and criticize you. Rejoice when this occurs for so “they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Jesus, Matthew 5.12b). “Let your light shine” anyway (Jesus, Matthew 5.16a). Do not be concerned about what others may think or do or say. Ask yourself one question at every point of decision: “Will this action please God?” Be honest. If it will, then go forth with uncommon confidence and total abandon.
“We make it our aim
to please him,...”
2nd Corinthians 5.9 ESV
“…brothers and
sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to
please God, as in fact you
are living.”
1st Thessalonians 4.1b NIV 2011
Choose to live outside yourself and beyond those around you. Be a leader. Cast your net in “the deep water” (Luke 5.4). Get in over your head. Place yourself in a position where your only option is to trust God. Prepare to suffer for the cause. Take a little abuse for Jesus. You will have detractors. Ignore them and “be a good servant” anyway.
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2 comments:
Dave, great post. And thanks for your response to my post of yesterday. I got ahead on my bibgle reading by a few days. Anyway, here's what struck me when I read chapter # 2.
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation."
What do these words really mean and do I live in a manner worthy of such a calling? The very fact that we are defined in such terms implies that others do not fit the category.
"A chosen people:" Peter says this simply means we are the people of God. He also says we have received mercy when others have not. The fact that we are chosen does not seem to mean that we are somehow special in and of our own right. But rather, through the blood of Christ, the Lord sees us as special. as Ron says, he sees us through a different lens.
"A royal priesthood:" Wow, that term may bew a little too muchy for me to get my arms around, but let me try. The priests were people set aside by God to carry the ark and to handle and take care of the most holy things in the tabernacle. Again we have this idea of separation, that we are called to handle a chore or taks that others simply were not allowed to do. And we're not just a priesthood, but a royal one at that.
"A holy nation:" Same idea. If we are a holy nation, it implies that other nations are in fact not holy. We have a connection to God that is most unique.
Looking forward to Friday morning. Thanks again Dave.
------CEDAR MILL
Jim,
You are a "chosen people", a "royal priesthood" and a "holy nation". I will add one more... Jim, you are 'alive in the power of the Holy Spirit'. Its so cool how you are taking the scripture and applying it. That is exactly what Christ wants you to do with the Word.
Love you man. See you in a few hours.
Dave
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