The Encourager
“Whom do We Serve?”
Whom do We Serve?
by Jeff Curtis
In John 8:31, Jesus speaks of the “Truth” making you free. The Jews responded to this statement by saying, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” (v.33). The Jews were a proud people and they had understood throughout the history of the Old Testament that they were God’s chosen people. Yet, Jesus was ushering in a New Covenant. In order to be a participant in this New Covenant, they would have to learn submission.
Submission: 1) the action or fact of accepting or yielding to a superior force or to the will or authority of another person. 2) an act of surrendering to a hold by one's opponent. 3) humility; meekness. With all of these definitions, the Jews were going to have to change their lives. They viewed themselves, even under Roman bondage, as being freemen.
The same is true with you and I today. We have a choice to make. Who we will serve? Will we serve the “Truth” that makes us free or will we serve that which is offered by the world?
John speaks of the three “avenues of temptation” in 1John 2:15-17, and tells us that we have a choice to make. If we give in to these avenues of temptation, then we are serving the world. He says after describing these avenues that they are of the world and not of the Father. “16…is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
There are any number of ways that we can give in to these avenues. As individuals, we are to allow the Truth to set us free. This world, not being of the Father, is more than willing to lure us with things that are only enticing to us. When we love the praise of this world it becomes easier to do the things that please the world.
Paul said in Romans 6:16; “16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” He tells us that we HAVE to make a choice. The choice we make will determine who we serve, our Father or the Devil. Remember, the devil is the Father of lies and wants to believe that the offerings of the world are good, innocent and rewarding.
Some things that the world offers are good, but as Christians, we must refrain from doing them. They may be innocent, but do they bring honor and glory to our Father in heaven? If they are rewarding, then who are we seeking a reward from? If we are going to wear the name Christian, then we are live, act, work, dress and talk in a way that brings Him honor.
Paul stated in 1Thessalonians 4:1; “Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; 2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.” Paul is here making a plea for spiritual purity. Are we living a life of spiritual purity?
Who do you serve? Are you the Father’s children? If so, does it show in your life as an individual Christian? Does it show in your life when you are on the job? Does it show in how we serve the Lord each week? Does it show in the way we raise our children?
It is a weighty job that we have and not one to be taken lightly. Who do you serve? The God of heaven or the god of this world?
