Free to Serve

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.  Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.  You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Philippians 2:3-5 (NLT) For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Galatians 5:13 (NLT) Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.  For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:13-14 (NLT) True freedom comes with a level of personal responsibility. …As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus… was sitting by the roadside begging.  When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Mark 10:46-47 (NIV) Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Mark 10:48 (NIV) Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” Mark 10:49 (NIV) So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. Mark 10:49-50 (NIV) “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. Mark 10:51 (NIV) The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” Mark 10:51 (NIV) “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. Mark 10:52 (NIV) Walking with Jesus, means paying attention to the marginalized. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Matthew 8:2 (NIV) Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Matthew 8:3 (NIV) Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Matthew 8:3 (NIV) “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. Matthew 25:34 (NLT) For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.  I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ Matthew 25:35-36 (NLT) “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?  Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?  When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ Matthew 25:37-39 (NLT) “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ Matthew 25:40 (NLT) When we truly follow Jesus… we will stop identifying people by their brokenness and will start seeing them how HE sees them. Our Job is to bring people to Jesus, not change them for our comfort. “The Spirit of the <span style="mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; font-variant:small-caps;color:black">Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see,that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” Luke 4:18-19 (NLT) He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently.  Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” Luke 4:20-21 (NLT) Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (NLT) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17 (NIV) Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20 (NLT) Never forget the life YOU left behind But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. 1 Peter 2:9-10 (MSG) For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Galatians 5:13 (NLT) Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.  For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:13-14 (NLT)  The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. 2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)   He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)