God Uses Ordinary People Who Obey Him
Isaacs growth in obedience was slow, and it was never perfect. As an old man he was still partial to blessing Esau over Jacob, in spite of Esaus godless ways. But, in spite of his imperfection, you can see progress in obedience, and the Lord responded to it. When the Lord first appeared to Isaac to tell him not to go to Egypt, the Lord emphasized Abrahams obedience . The next verse reports Isaac obedience. It wasnt automatic. Remember, there was a famine. To obey, Isaac had to trust the Lord and change his plans. But he did it. When the neighbors contended with Isaac, he didnt fight for his rights. He sought peace by yielding his rights and moving on.
When Isaac finally moved back to Beersheba, where Abraham had lived, the Lord appeared to Isaac a second time, reconfirming His blessing and protection . The peace treaty with Abimelech and the news of water being discovered were two more evidences that Isaac was where God wanted him, in the place of obedience, where Abraham had obeyed the Lord. Beersheba means, Well of the Covenant. If you have been wandering from the Lord, come back to the place of obedience and the Lord will bless you and confirm His promises to you.
Where Is The Verse Serve One Another In Love In The Bible
The Bible calls us to serve one another in love in Galatians 5:13 which says, For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But dont use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. How then do we practically live out these words in our lives? ;Freely serving without giving into our sinful and selfish nature? ;
What Is The Context And Meaning Of Galatians : 13
;Barnes’ Notes;on this passage tells us a story about people who struggled to say committed to their new faith, easily being pulled back into old habits and ways. They wanted to abuse the message of freedom to mean that they were not required to have any restraint in their lives. ;
Paul corrects this erroneous thinking and reminds them what the true reason for the spiritual freedom Christ had died for: they are free so that they may be able to serve others in love! ;;
Paul teaches the Corinthians a similar message in 1 Corinthians 12. In this text, he explains that they all have gifts given by the Spirit but these gifts are given to serve the common good. ;All we have been given through the Spirit of God is not for us to hold onto for our own profit. ;
Just as 1 Corinthians 13:2 tells us if we dont have love we have nothing,;Paul is reminding the Galatians of the same principle. ;We are free so that we may love! ;
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How Do I Determine How To Serve Others
There are times when we arent quite sure what to do to help others. With so many needs in the world, and so many broken people, the shear thought of serving can be paralyzing.
One way to determine how to serve is to just jump right ;The first is to just jump in and try something out! The other is to ask yourself a few questions to narrow down your heart for the community. Ask yourself a few questions.
- Who do I feel called to serve?
- What skills do I have?
- How much time do I have to serve?
Answering these questions can help you significantly in determining where in this list you can make the most impact.
Bible Verses On Serving Others
1 Peter 4:10
Acts 20:35;In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Galatians 5:13-14;For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
John 13:12-14;When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
Matthew 20:28;Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
;And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.
Luke 6:38;Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.
1 Corinthians 9:19;For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.
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What Does The Bible Say About Giving And Receiving
In the final hours with His disciples, Jesus sets a powerful example to serve one another by washing their feet and gives them a new commandment to focus on love.
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:35.
The book of Acts records that the early church took this teaching to heart. Believers met together in their homes to break bread, teach and worship, and they also sold their possessions and shared freely with those in need
The body of believers is meant to be a community, united in love, that openly blesses one another when a need arises and simply just because it can.
As we enter the Christmas season in Park Regency, it’s important to remember the act of giving first started with God and that our own gifts are a way to honor Him and to extend His love to others.
The Bible states that God loves a cheerful giver and that Jesus taught it is better to give then receive . These teachings aren’t meant to burden us with the pressure to give during the holiday or any other time but rather to encourage us that, when we are focused on Him and filled with His love, giving comes naturally. The joy we experience in knowing how much God treasures each one of us makes us want others to know the happiness this truth brings.
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The Blessedness Of Giving
Perhaps one of the most well-known lines in Scripture is: It is more blessed to give than to receive. This truth endures in our hearts and mindseven in secular culturebecause it is so self-evidently true. While it seems counterintuitive, when God stirs our hearts to give and we are obedient to him, we experience satisfaction and become more conformed to the image of Christ, who gave himself for us.
Proverbs 11:25: Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.
Proverbs 19:17: Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.
Proverbs 22:9: The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.
Matthew 25:44-45: They also will answer, Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you? He will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.
: And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.
Luke 3:10-11: What should we do then? the crowd asked. John answered, Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.
Galatians 6:9: And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
A Prayer For Help In Serving Others In Love
Dear Lord,;;;I need the power of your Holy Spirit in my life! ;It is only through you that I have the ability to love and serve those around me. Help me to remember to give thanks for all you have given me. Guide me in my journey to prioritize rest, as your word has instructed me to practice Sabbath. ;Help me discover the gifts you have given me and use them well. ;By your grace bring others into my life that will encourage me when I start feeling weary. ;More than anything, thank you Lord, for allowing me to be your hands and feet to the world. ;
Amen. ;
Amanda Idleman;is a writer whose passion is to encourage others to live joyfully. She writes devotions for the Daily Bible Devotions App, she has work published with Her View from Home, also for the MOPS Blog, she is contributing to a couples devotional for Crosswalk, and is a regular contributor for Crosswalk.com. You can find out more about Amanda at rvahouseofjoy.com or follow her on Instagram at rvahouseofjoy.
Amanda Idleman is a writer whose passion is to encourage others to live joyfully. She writes devotions for My Daily Bible Verse Devotional and Podcast, Crosswalk Couples Devotional, the Daily Devotional App, she has work published with Her View from Home, on the MOPS Blog, and is a regular contributor for Crosswalk.com. You can find out more about Amanda on her or follow her on .
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Serving In The Church
I encourage you to examine yourself. Stop for a second and ponder this question. Are you a spectator or are you an active participant in your church? If not, I encourage you to join the battle! There are numerous ways of serving others in the church. The role of pastor is primarily a role of service. As he leads the congregation each week in worship through exposition of the Scriptures, he is serving the church body.
Likewise, the deacons, teachers, small group leaders, and janitors all serve the church in their roles. Other ways that we can serve in the church are on a safety team, by tidying up after service, by serving food at church socials.
Other ways that people can serve are by simply BEING the body. Being an active member: sing along during worship, listen attentively to the sermon instead of scrolling through Facebook, get to know the other believers so that you can encourage and edify them. By being an active member, you are being a good influence and serving others.;
18. Mark 9:35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.
19. Matthew 23:11 The greatest among you shall be your servant.
20. 1 John 3:17 But whoever has this worlds goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
23. Hebrews 13:16 Dont neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.
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The Holiness Of Helpfulness
Helping others isnt just a good thing to do; it is a holy thing to do. This means that helping others is one of the ways that God sets apart his church in the world. Christians are meant to separate themselves from the spirit of this age by refusing to live selfish lives and, instead, serving others.
Matthew 5:42: Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Ephesians 2:10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Galatians 2:10: Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
Galatians 6:2: Carry each others burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Hebrews 6:10: God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
Hebrews 13:16: And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Luke 6:30: Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.
John 15:13: Greater love has no one than this: to lay down ones life for ones friends.
Romans 12:10: Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Romans 12:13: Share with the Lords people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
The Bible Calls Us To Serve Those In Need Around Us
Being one who serves is apart of what it means to be a Christ-follower. ;God wants us to, through the empowerment of His Holy Spirit, follow His command from Isaiah 1:17, Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.;
We are called to serve not only the people we see in our daily lives but look for opportunities to serve the oppressed, orphaned, widows, and seek the cause of justice whenever we have the chance. ;All of this starts with inviting God into our days and asking Him to be our strength when we feel weak. ;
Here are 4 ways to serve others in love on a daily basis:
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Lesson : How God Uses Ordinary People
Have you ever felt that God couldnt use you to serve Him because you were just too ordinary? When I was in seminary, I heard a parade of gifted, dynamic, successful pastors and Christian leaders. Sometimes I would think, Ill never be where theyre at, because Im not that gifted. Sometimes you wished they would bring in Joe Average, pastor of the Podunk Bible Church!
One reason the story of Isaac is in the Bible is to show us how God can use an ordinary person. Isaac was the ordinary son of a famous father, and the ordinary father of a famous son. Alexander Maclaren began a sermon on Isaac by noting, The salient feature of Isaacs life is that it has no salient features. Although he lived longer than Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph, Isaacs life is pretty much covered in one chapter whose most exciting feature is some squabbles over some wells. You might say that Isaac was the Calvin Coolidge of his day. As you know, Silent Cal wasnt noted for much other than being quiet and sleeping eleven hours a day. When someone reported to Dorothy Parker the news that Coolidge had died, she replied, How can they tell?
Isaac was kind of blah. He wasnt bold like his father Abraham, who made a daring raid against the kings of the east. He wasnt shrewd like his son, Jacob, or a gifted leader like his grandson, Joseph. Yet God used him to work out His covenant promises. His life shows us that theres hope in the Lord for all us ordinary people!
Why Its Important To Have Verses On Serving Others In Need
So many genuine people have fallen on hard times and never thought theyd be homeless. How would you feel if that ended up being you? Then you have some people who have become this way due to addictions.
Maybe you have loved ones who have pushed and used family and friends to the point they can no longer be trusted. Some cannot help themselves at all due to emotional or mental health issues. Sadly, some flat out refuse help.
Regardless, I find it hard to block the image from my mind no matter what I do. It makes me feel like the worst person EVER because I didnt do anything and I dwell on it.
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What Does The God Say About Helping Others
The first place we should always go when deciding how to proceed in life on any topic is the bible. Understanding Gods intention for any habit or activity is the best way to truly grow in an area of our lives. Learning more about serving others is no different.
Throughout the Old and New Testament there are multiple bible verses about serving others for us to study, however, the best example of serving others in the bible is the life of Jesus.
Jesus entire purpose in life was service. He came to earth, from his place on high with God, to give to us. Humans who have no possible way of paying him back. He left everything to live among us and show us the best way to live and to claim the victory over death and sin that had been present on earth since the fall of humanity.