Tag: Devotion

The word “ministry” means literally a “deacon” or “servant”. Barnes observed well concerning the word “ministry”, “This word properly means service of any kind, Lu 10:40. It is used in religion to denote the service which is rendered to Christ as the Master. It is applied to all classes of ministers in the New Testament, as denoting their being the servants of Christ; and it is used particularly to denote that class who, from this word, were called deacons, i.e. those who had the care of the poor, who provided for the sick, and who watched over the external matters of the church.”

This first gift involves the declaration the Word of God. The New Testament church began when the Apostle Peter first prophesied, he preached the word of God to the men in Jerusalem at Pentecost Three thousand souls were saved. God continues to save souls through the preaching of His Word. Indeed, faith comes by hearing, and hearing the Word of God. Amen.

The Apostle Paul exhorts the believers to discover their gifts and exercise their gifts for the blessing of the body of Christ. Each has a contribution to make. As a whole, the body of Christ is strengthened as individual believers are mindful of their gifts and exercise and develop their gifts. Indeed, as the saying goes, “Every person has talent; the secret is discovering what it is and learning the best way to put it into action.”

There is diversity and yet unity in the body of Christ. The functioning of individual parts of the body makes for the unity of the entire body. Every part of the body contributes to the overall functioning of the body. Indeed, the human body is a tribute to its Creator God. And the body of Christ is a tribute to its Enabler Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour!

The Apostle Paul exhorts Christians to be humble. To think more highly literally means to over think or think above and so to be proud and haughty. The spiritual gifts bestowed by God must not cause spiritual pride. He encourages them to use their spiritual gifts for the blessing of the body of Christ. He acknowledges that it is by God’s grace or unmerited favour that he could serve God. It is the same for them. To think soberly is to exercise sound judgment. Christians are to live humbly before God because all they are and have comes from Him. Christians are endowed with faith by God to exercise their gifts to edify, build up and bless other Christians.

We are to continually abstain from being conformed to the world and be continually transformed to imbibe God’s will in our lives. Realize that it is not by our own strength that can be transformed to do the will of God. We are to pray continually for God’s grace to help us to have the strength to obey His will.

The renewal of the mind comes with the meditation and imbibing of God’s Word in our heart and life. Moses left a deep conviction in Joshua’s heart of the benefit of keeping God’s Word. As Joshua inherited the mantle from Moses, the LORD gave him these instructions in Joshua 1:8, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua lived a fruitful life in obedience to God’s Word.

The Christian has now a heavenly perspective to this life. He sets his affection not on the things of this world but on the things that have eternal value. His value system is changed. He sees the treasures of this world with a different perspective. He knows that when he takes his last breath, he cannot bring any of the treasures of this world with him. The way he looks that this world is changed. May God help us to renew our minds that we may have a heavenly perspective of this earthly life. Amen.

Give to God your wholehearted devotion is the call issued by the Apostel Paul. All that we are comes from Him. God made us with a mind, with a heart and with a will that we might think, love and obey Him freely.

Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-79) of England began writing verse at age seven. Her insatiable thirst for the Bible led her to memorize the entire New Testament, Psalms, Isaiah, and the Minot Prophets. She was a concert contralto soloist and a brilliant classical pianist. She gave her life to Christ at age fifteen.

At age twenty-one she stood in the art gallery at Dusseldorf, Germany, looking at the painting of the crucifixion with the engraving beneath it: “This I have done for thee; what hast thou done for Me?” In the previous century the wealthy young Count Zinzendorf of Moravian missionary fame read these same words and was led to consecrate his life to Christ. As she stood there, her very soul was stirred. Tears cascaded down her cheeks. From that moment she dedicated her talents to the service of the Lord.

The consecrated life that is acceptable to God is characterised by holiness. The word “holy” means “set apart, sanctified, consecrated.” The root word means “chaste, pure.” Its fundamental idea is separation, consecration, devotion to the service of God through Jesus Christ. It means sharing in God’s purity and abstaining from earth’s defilement. It is made possible by the God, the Father of mercies (2 Cor. 1:3) who showed compassion or pity for the suffering sinner. The believer can depend upon God’s mercies as they make their bodies a living offering to Him. [The Complete Word Study Bible Dictionary, Spiros Zodhiates]

Solomon defined holiness as the defining character of believers that God pronounced as good in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.