SERVANTS ARE FOR SERVICE![]()
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The wisest son of Adam, Solomon, once said, “For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear: For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat; For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.” Proverbs 30:21-23.![]()
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Servants come in all sizes, shapes, and attitudes, but the common denominator of them all is that of service to others. While it may be opined that all men are servants to someone or something, it is nevertheless true that there is a difference between a servant and a ruler. Such differences are attributable to the Creator Who, as Paul said, “Made of one blood all men and appointed the bounds of their habitation.” Acts 17: 26. Not only did He do this, but He also created the three major, distinct races of men in the offspring of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.![]()
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“Shem” means “Name or monument,” “Ham” means “Dark, swarthy,” and “Japheth” means “Fair.” Shem is the father of the Hebrews and many other nations through Abraham, and the relatives of Abraham of which scant knowledge is available. Ham produced such offspring as Phut (black as tar) Canaan, etc. Japheth produced the Scandinavian people of light skin, eyes, and hair. However from these three many nations have evolved through wars and other forces of amalgamation. Still the predominant categorization of earth’s population remains basically threefold: Caucasoid, Negroid, and Mongoloid despite a mixture of these in some countries. A point is being driven forward, so let the wise think with me!![]()
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Some of the offspring of the early progenitors are not noted as having any specific, outstanding marks or characteristics given by the Creator. Others are. He pulled from the descendants of Shem, our father Abraham, and blessed his seed through Isaac with covenants of faith, law, and church. He divinely characterized the offspring of Ishmael as wild people who would dwell in the midst of their brethren. Gen. 16:12. He further placed a curse on the descendants of Canaan, the son of Ham, making them a servant of servants. Gen. 9:25. These things are not this writers thoughts or constructs. They are the Creator’s record.![]()
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Suppose that one should arise having the combined characteristics of the offspring of both Canaan (servant) and Ishmael (wild man). Moreover, consider that such an one were somehow exalted to become a ruler. That would certainly make the wise sayings of Solomon take on more present meaning. “. . . the earth is disquieted . . . and cannot bear. . . for a servant when he reigneth. . .” Such a ruling servant would be interested in his own agenda, creating disruption and mayhem rather than compassionate good for the people. Certainly, that should be more than enough to cause folks to pray: “Lord, please deliver us from the rule of a servant., but help us to be better servants for you.”![]()
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Do you consider yourself to be a bond-servant to Jesus? Servants, after all, are for service!
SEEING WHAT OTHERS CANNOT SEE![]()
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A most interesting verse of scripture occurs in Isaiah 53:2, “For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.” ![]()
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Here are two views of the Lord Jesus in His earthly life: the first is that of the Heavenly Father. He sees Jesus, His only begotten Son as a young, lush, altogether beautiful, highly desirable plant. The other view is that of humanity. It is that of a dry root sticking up out of the ground, having no form nor comeliness to be desired. He was simply a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, from which men turned away. Two views, so very different. How could that be?![]()
Men almost always look at the visible. God looks at the invisible. Men are slow to learn that it is always the invisible that is important, and that it is the invisible that makes the visible what it is, whether of great or of little esteem. Those who judge from the visible get it wrong most all of the time.![]()
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Judging from the visible is the devil’s game. He intends to deceive with glitter that is far from gold; with mirth that ends in sorrow; with prosperity that ends in poverty; with love that is absent of commitment. “Just see all these visible things that can be yours.” To the Christian, herein lies the hypocrisy that James talks about in his epistle. James 2:1-10. Herein lies also the lure of the prodigal son, and the ways of the world under Satan, its god.![]()
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On the other hand, true wisdom allows one to see what other cannot see. Such wisdom is not of human origin, but comes from God. James 1:5. The most historical example of this is the ancient king, Solomon who was given wisdom excelling all men before or after him. Wisdom is the aspect of life that allows one to see beyond the visible, and by that become the big, eternal winners in life. It was seeing the invisible that allowed Elisha to be calm and confident in the face of an overwhelming military invasion of his city. 2 Kings 6:17. This is the key to the success of Moses according to Hebrews 11:27,”...for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible” Consider also our father, Abraham of whom it is said, “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Hebrews 11:10-16. “...wherefore God is not ashamed to be call their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”![]()
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What are your guide and decision making processes operating on, the visible….or…..the invisible?
IDENTIFYING THE "NEWNESS" OF BIBLE MENTION ![]()
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2 Cor. 5:17, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away, behold all things are become new.” To the large percentage of modern Christianity, this simply means being born again, and that it all. But, perhaps more is intended. Consider it! ![]()
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The new birth certainly is new or it would not be so called. But the newness of it is individual extending all the way back to Eden. But what about an afterward misdirected life, or perpetual infancy in the Lord? Obviously, something more is here referenced as “new” in the writings of Paul. It is the New Testament or New Covenant that God has with His people. It is for each born-again child of God to follow the Lord Jesus Christ in scriptural baptism, church fellowship (regularly) and in learning of His ways (being an active disciple). What have you learned about the ways of God for mankind since your new birth experience? ![]()
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As we learn of Him and His ways, we, ourselves, become transformed more and more into the image of His Dear Son, as 2 Cor. 2:18 puts it, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” By this ongoing acquisition of knowledge, life, goals, desires, and hopes grow, and change in transformation to His wonderful Word and Will. This is obvious and observable to those looking at us in our homes and communities.![]()
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Pity those stagnated in spiritual life and understanding. It should never be so! If any man be in Christ (the anointed), all things are become new. To be “in Christ” is to be into the things of Christ. Jesus is “The Anointed (Christ)” and His body, (his church) is also Christ (Anointed) by the same Holy Spirit. As we fellowship in a Bible-believing, New Testament Church, we learn, and are so transformed in spiritual understanding that we marvel and rejoice at the wonderful new things that somehow had escaped our attention before. Let every believer study and pray to acquire and radiate His newness of life. ![]()
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FOR THOUGHT: Do you realize that the newness of this age is not the new birth, but the newness of information and understanding of God’s will and way revealed in the New Testament which when believed results in a New Testament church? There is much “New” to both seasoned and initial believers. What have you learned recently that is new to you?
SEEKING KNOWLEDGE OF RESURRECTION POWER![]()
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There is an attainment alien to planet Earth. It outranks all other possible possessions in worthiness of pursuit. Among men, gold, silver, diamonds, and pearls are universally accepted as wealth, and the years of life are given to acquire them, and what they represent. But there is another that pales the treasures of earth. Think with me for a minute.![]()
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Prerequisites are essential to the ability to pursue the treasure of which I write. Being born from above, and committed to obediently following God in New Covenant relationship are those prerequisites that open the door to that opportunity. Think of it in the context of the apostle Paul.![]()
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God used Paul as He did no other. Paul also had things men seek in life: the best education, friends in high places, and rank in his Pharisaical world, to name a few. Yet, in Philippians Chapter Three, he listed some of those, but went on to say they were all counted but loss, even as a pile of dung in comparison to the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus. He wanted above all other things to know Him better, and especially the power of His resurrection.![]()
At this Easter season, the world called “Christendom” celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. but few understand its possibility. Jesus was a man, but He was also the Creator God of the universe. Since the wages of sin is death, it was possible for the man Jesus, Who knew no sin, to die only because he voluntarily took upon Himself the sins of men. But the man, Jesus was formed of flesh and blood of this world. However, the life in the man Jesus was the eternal God Himself. It is not possible for Him to die. But it was possible for the God Who lived in the man Jesus to re-enter the human body of Jesus, changing it into a glorified state. That has specific and profound meaning to His people.![]()
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The Spirit of the Living God which dwells in His people is life, and it is not possible for it to die. To this point Jesus forthrightly declared: “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” John 11:26. The everlasting life Jesus gives to those who repent of sins and accepts Him as their personal Savior begins at the moment that happens. It never ends and cannot end because it is everlasting. What that means is that though death claims the flesh on earth, the life-force or spirit returns to God Who gave it to await the command of the Master to reunite in a glorified body like unto His own. The interim is not inactive, but chock full of glorious awareness that pales that of earth. Hallelujah! ![]()
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We join Paul in pursuit of a better knowledge of that; his prime directive. He lives! We live!