TWENTY-FOURTH

“Luke 12:35 says “Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit.”

This is my twenty-fourth blog/teaching since COVID started. Sweet sisters in Jesus Christ, the Lord is with you and He sees the oppressive atmosphere….In His Holy Word He tells us to FEAR NOT over 300 times…

He knew today would come and He knows exactly what you are feeling right now!   Our world has changed and as time passes we will look back at this time as another opportunity that believers were encouraged to “keep their lamps lit”. 

The devil is gearing up for a final battle, yes we are in the end times and have been since Jesus hung on the cross.  Through history we have faced wars, genocide, every kind of atrocity that humans are capable of doing to one another. The devil has fueled these situations just has he is at working stoking the fire right now. 

We must stay focused on Jesus, His example to us, how in these times we can bring the love of God to those caught up in fear and hate. How can this be accomplished, how can we represent His love, heal the hurting, and bring truth to the lost? The answer is not easy, there is a cost involved, a sacrifice to go beyond. 

Jesus tells us in Matthew 20:28 that He came to serve. “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

We are called to be a “Bondservant of Jesus Christ”.  The word bondservant is defined as “as person bound in service without wages, a slave, servitude; the state of being a slave or completely subject to someone more powerful.

 I know you are thinking no way, that is just not for me, however everything changes when it is the King, Jesus Christ, in who we serve and that service spills onto those in our circle of influence and beyond.  His bondservant operates in freedom because the servitude we hold to is out of God’s love for us, a love so big that Jesus went to the cross for you and me.

Let’s go to God’s Word for a clear picture who we are to live as bondservants to our King…

“Now Jesus was fully aware that the Father had placed all things under his control, for he had come from God and was about to go back to be with him.  So, he got up from the meal and took off his outer robe, and took a towel and wrapped it around his waist.  Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ dirty feet and dry them with his towel.

 But when Jesus got to Simon Peter, he objected and said, “I can’t let you wash my dirty feet—you’re my Lord!”

 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand yet the meaning of what I’m doing, but soon it will be clear to you.”

 Peter looked at Jesus and said, “You’ll never wash my dirty feet—never!”

“But Peter, if you don’t allow me to wash your feet,” Jesus responded, “then you will not be able to share life with me.”

 So Peter said, “Lord, in that case, don’t just wash my feet, wash my hands and my head too!”

 Jesus said to him, “You are already clean. You’ve been washed completely and you just need your feet to be cleansed—but that can’t be said of all of you.” For Jesus knew which one was about to betray him,  and that’s why he told them that not all of them were clean.

 After washing their feet, he put his robe on and returned to his place at the table. “Do you understand what I just did?” Jesus said.  “You’ve called me your teacher and lord, and you’re right, for that’s who I am.  So if I’m your teacher and lord and have just washed your dirty feet, then you should follow the example that I’ve set for you and wash one another’s dirty feet. Now do for each other what I have just done for you.  I speak to you timeless truth: a servant is not superior to his master, and an apostle is never greater than the one who sent him.  So now put into practice what I have done for you, and you will experience a life of happiness enriched with untold blessings!” John 13:4-17 The Passion Translation

I am compelled to speak that last verse…Jesus let those words sink deep into my spirit and be manifested in my life.

 “So now put into practice what I have done for you, and you will experience a life of happiness enriched with untold blessings!”

That “happiness enriched”, is not how much stuff we own, receiving 200 likes, smiley faces, hearts to our social media. People affirming our position on a social issue or political opinion.   That does not define you…The love of Jesus, our searching and finding how we can serve the King is where we are defined and receive those untold blessings.   Humility is key in this servitude because when our actions are based in pride they are centered in self…self−serving, self−gratifying behavior. This life you  are living here on earth is not about you…it is about how you allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in doing the work of the Father, that is where true blessings and happiness is found.

Jesus gave you and me this directive…“So I give you now a new commandment: Love each other just as much as I have loved you.  For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you by loving one another, everyone will know that you’re my true followers.” John 13:34-35 TPT

There, right there is the key to our life…simple yet difficult to live out, however, we have God’s Word, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus sitting next to the Father to help us in our journey.  What can you do today? Who is in need? How can you serve without anyone even knowing it was you? Yep, that the best one, the last…without anyone knowing…God will know and that is all that matters! Keep your lamp lit and allow Jesus to burn bright in your life!

Blessing,

Sister Laurie