An Accurate Picture Of Serving
I’m Dr. Bob and for just a Mentoring Minute, I want to challenge you with a simple, accurate picture of service to the Lord. Here it is. Serving God is an uncompromising, highly principled, often costly commitment to value and care for others. It is sacrificial in its foundations and character. It leaves no room for avoidance or an exit strategy. You just serve without regard to relief or rewards. Serving carries your personal decision for sacrificial action. Acts, Chapter 9, records that Saul of Tarsus has a life-changing encounter with Christ. In Verses 3-6 (NKJV) it says, “As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. {4} Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” {5} And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” {6} So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Regardless of what life brings, service in obedience to God refuses to devalue its commitment to Him. This requires your refusal to devalue the Lord’s call to serve the people He gives you to serve. Servanthood is a reflection of the heart of God. Christ came to serve those He loves (which is the whole world), in spite of the reality that we do not deserve His sacrificial service. Serving others is the platform upon which God’s abundant blessings stand. These blessings are designed to be part of our service to each other and those less fortunate than we are. God’s blessings will multiply themselves in the midst of your commitment to serve. Be true to it and expect your greatest blessings will be your opportunities to serve. One more thing; the test of God’s servant is found in how he or she reacts when treated like one. I’m Dr. Bob and that is a look at a biblical principle that is truth and will set you free. You can listen to additional Mentoring Minutes at www.mentoringministry.com/blogs.
An Accurate Picture of Serving
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Choices are the Hinges of Your Destiny
I’m Dr. Bob and for just a Mentoring Minute, I want to share some thoughts I have regarding something my pastor, Dr. Tom Peters recently said. Listen carefully. He said, “Choices are the hinges of your destiny.” When I heard this, the Holy Spirit immediately spoke to me. He burned the words that Dr. Peters spoke deeply into my heart. It was clear, and it was powerful. Think about it. The choices you make will be the hinges of your destiny. Let this truth speak to you. Let it encourage you. God has an amazing future for you that is full of amazing blessings. Like many of God’s blessings, those you can receive may be conditional. There is likely to be a big “IF” attached to them. “IF” you will make right choices, chief among which, in my opinion is to do as Jesus said in Luke 9:23 – to choose to deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow Him. When you do, amazing things beyond what you could hope for or dream of will chase you down and bless you. I assure you, these amazing things hinge on the choices you make. Now, don’t try to argue with this powerful truth. You can argue about many things, but there are two with which you can never argue. First, never argue with a man’s experience and second, never argue with the Word of God. I’m Dr. Bob. What I just shared comes from both what I have personally experienced and from what God declared in His Word. So… make the right choice. Be an uncompromising, determined Luke 9:23 Christian. You can listen to my previous Mentoring Minutes at www.mentoringministry.com/blogs.
choices-are-the-hinges-of-your-destiny-04-14-11
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Rags To Riches
I’m Dr. Bob, and for just a Mentoring Minute, I want you to reflect on this thought. Manufactured self-righteousness, self-determined morality… and the lifestyle that goes with it are made from an emptiness of truth. These are cut from the cloth of self-deception. They are nothing more than the stuff of filthy, worthless rags. Manufactured righteousness and self-determined morality have no strength, no integrity, and no ability to justify or make you right in the sight of God. Here is the uncompromising truth. Righteousness is surrender to biblical truth, as only God defines it. The only gate to righteousness is repentance. The only clothes you can wear when you stand before God are robes of His righteousness. He is the only One who can provide these robes. You might say He is the Almighty Tailor. I strongly suggest this is in what you clothe yourself. Put it on and keep it on. Wear it always, as best as you can. The righteousness of God in Christ cannot be self-manufactured. It is the gift of riches only your surrender will provide. I’m Dr. Bob. Let there be no more manufactured righteousness; no more self- determined morality. The righteousness of God in Christ is your inheritance. Wear it well. You can listen to my previous Mentoring Minutes at www.mentoringministry.com/blogs. While you are there, go to the “Free Resources” and look at my series, “The Four T’s.” It will help you to dress for success.
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Self-service Society
It seems that more and more of us place high value being independent from rules and restraints. We hate lines and we have learned to do everything ourselves. We no longer need the services of salespeople, librarians or others who used to be there to care for our needs. Everything in the world around us seems to be rapidly heading toward a self-service society. That can be really convenient. The question is, will it result in our personal loss of the desire and ability to serve others? That would be a tragedy. We are to be like Jesus, who came to serve. Paul described himself as a bondservant. It is the call of every Christian.
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