We're about to complete Chapter 9 of the Calvary Road, but I've not been able to get past the question from Chapter 8 ever since we started it.
It seems so tightly coupled with the topic of Chapter 9 since there has never been one more willing to be a Servant than the Lord Jesus Christ.
That sound strange to even say it, and I love the Lord. Imagine what the world thinks when they hear us say we love to serve the Christ who is Lord and God and yet was a lowly Lamb who shed His blood; and It redeemed us!
So anyway, even as I've been going through the Scriptures so far this year, those passages that speak of being a servant or called to be a servant, or loving things and others less than we love our Lord have really popped out to me.
If they have you, post some of them here. Below, I've posted some from Luke's Gospel.
Luke 12:37-40; 41-48
The Lord Jesus asks the question: “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom [his] lord shall make ruler over his household, to give [them their] portion of meat in due season?”
Then He answers: “Blessed [is] that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.”
But there’s more to this! What do you think about verses 47 & 48?
Luke 14:15-24; 25-35
Here, the Lord teaches how many will make excuses when they’re “called to the supper.”
I wonder though, if men make excuses why they don’t want to come to supper with the Lord Jesus Christ, how can they ever be expected to answer a calling to do His calling to do His will when it’s uncomfortable?
Then Jesus goes further with His classic teaching: “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”
Luke 16:1-13
“Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true [riches]? And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own? No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
Are there two masters in my life? Time for some searching.
Luke 17:5-10
When it comes down to it, I have to agree with the Scripture because it does not lie! My best commendations amount to nothing more than the bare minimum that was my duty to do!
We covered this in Chapter 8 – Am I serving God for His thanks? Am I hoping only to obtain some gain or benefit? Or is it enough for me to know that my Master is happy and blessed?
Luke 17:11-19
Am I one of the 9 that were healed and just went their way? Or would I be the one who turns back to praise and thank the sweet Lord Jesus?
Luke 18:18-30; 31-34
After this lesson about not clinging to riches, Jesus turns to His purpose for being there (with them; with us).
This seems like a parallel to the cross again, as if the Lord Jesus is saying:
“Look, if you're listening, I’m about to go through this ultimate trial.
I’m going to be poured out! I’m going to be scourged and murdered, let alone enduring the full wrath of my Father, on YOUR behalf!
Will you be my servant?
Will you sell all that you have and follow me?
The reward I offer is Eternal Life in Me! I am the Life!
You'll know it's true by my rising from the dead, when I've defeated the grave!
Will you love me more than the things of the world?
Will you display your love for me more than just when it's convenient for you?”
Where do we stand men?
It seems so tightly coupled with the topic of Chapter 9 since there has never been one more willing to be a Servant than the Lord Jesus Christ.
That sound strange to even say it, and I love the Lord. Imagine what the world thinks when they hear us say we love to serve the Christ who is Lord and God and yet was a lowly Lamb who shed His blood; and It redeemed us!
So anyway, even as I've been going through the Scriptures so far this year, those passages that speak of being a servant or called to be a servant, or loving things and others less than we love our Lord have really popped out to me.
If they have you, post some of them here. Below, I've posted some from Luke's Gospel.
Luke 12:37-40; 41-48
The Lord Jesus asks the question: “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom [his] lord shall make ruler over his household, to give [them their] portion of meat in due season?”
Then He answers: “Blessed [is] that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.”
But there’s more to this! What do you think about verses 47 & 48?
Luke 14:15-24; 25-35
Here, the Lord teaches how many will make excuses when they’re “called to the supper.”
I wonder though, if men make excuses why they don’t want to come to supper with the Lord Jesus Christ, how can they ever be expected to answer a calling to do His calling to do His will when it’s uncomfortable?
Then Jesus goes further with His classic teaching: “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”
Luke 16:1-13
“Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true [riches]? And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own? No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
Are there two masters in my life? Time for some searching.
Luke 17:5-10
When it comes down to it, I have to agree with the Scripture because it does not lie! My best commendations amount to nothing more than the bare minimum that was my duty to do!
We covered this in Chapter 8 – Am I serving God for His thanks? Am I hoping only to obtain some gain or benefit? Or is it enough for me to know that my Master is happy and blessed?
Luke 17:11-19
Am I one of the 9 that were healed and just went their way? Or would I be the one who turns back to praise and thank the sweet Lord Jesus?
Luke 18:18-30; 31-34
After this lesson about not clinging to riches, Jesus turns to His purpose for being there (with them; with us).
This seems like a parallel to the cross again, as if the Lord Jesus is saying:
“Look, if you're listening, I’m about to go through this ultimate trial.
I’m going to be poured out! I’m going to be scourged and murdered, let alone enduring the full wrath of my Father, on YOUR behalf!
Will you be my servant?
Will you sell all that you have and follow me?
The reward I offer is Eternal Life in Me! I am the Life!
You'll know it's true by my rising from the dead, when I've defeated the grave!
Will you love me more than the things of the world?
Will you display your love for me more than just when it's convenient for you?”
Where do we stand men?