My Utmost for His Highest - The Destitution of Service
MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST -- http://www.heartlight.org
February 25, 2010
THE DESTITUTION OF SERVICE
Though the more abundantly I love you, the less I beloved.
2Corinthians 12:15 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=2co+12:15&sr=1
Natural love expects some return, but Paul says - I do not carewhether you love me or not, I am willing to destitute myselfcompletely, not merely for your sakes, but that I may get you to God."For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He wasrich, yet for your sakes He became poor." Paul's idea of service isexactly along that line - I do not care with what extravagance Ispend myself, and I will do it gladly. It was a joyful thing to Paul.
The ecclesiastical idea of a servant of God is not Jesus Christ'sidea. His idea is that we serve Him by being the servants of othermen. Jesus Christ out-socialists the socialists. He says that in HisKingdom he that is greatest shall be the servant of all. The realtest of the saint is not preaching the gospel, but washing disciples'feet, that is, doing the things that do not count in the actualestimate of men but count everything in the estimate of God. Pauldelighted to spend him self out for God's interests in other people,and he did not care what it cost. We come in with our economicalnotions - "Suppose God wants me to go there - what about the salary?What about the climate? How shall I be looked after? A man mustconsider these things." All that is an indication that we are servingGod with a reserve. The apostle Paul had no reserve. Paul focusesJesus Christ's idea of a New Testament saint in his life, viz.: notone who proclaims the Gospel merely, but one who becomes broken breadand poured out wine in the hands of Jesus Christ for other lives.
February 25, 2010
THE DESTITUTION OF SERVICE
Though the more abundantly I love you, the less I beloved.
2Corinthians 12:15 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=2co+12:15&sr=1
Natural love expects some return, but Paul says - I do not carewhether you love me or not, I am willing to destitute myselfcompletely, not merely for your sakes, but that I may get you to God."For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He wasrich, yet for your sakes He became poor." Paul's idea of service isexactly along that line - I do not care with what extravagance Ispend myself, and I will do it gladly. It was a joyful thing to Paul.
The ecclesiastical idea of a servant of God is not Jesus Christ'sidea. His idea is that we serve Him by being the servants of othermen. Jesus Christ out-socialists the socialists. He says that in HisKingdom he that is greatest shall be the servant of all. The realtest of the saint is not preaching the gospel, but washing disciples'feet, that is, doing the things that do not count in the actualestimate of men but count everything in the estimate of God. Pauldelighted to spend him self out for God's interests in other people,and he did not care what it cost. We come in with our economicalnotions - "Suppose God wants me to go there - what about the salary?What about the climate? How shall I be looked after? A man mustconsider these things." All that is an indication that we are servingGod with a reserve. The apostle Paul had no reserve. Paul focusesJesus Christ's idea of a New Testament saint in his life, viz.: notone who proclaims the Gospel merely, but one who becomes broken breadand poured out wine in the hands of Jesus Christ for other lives.
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