Christian Part Three: December 16, 2009

TODAYS WORD FOR WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 16

CHRISTIAN
Part Three

As we continue to prepare for the “CELEBRATION OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS” on Christmas day we continue to look at the word Christian. Today we will look at the role of SERVICE in the life of a Christian.

Defined by Webster:
One who professes the religious principles of Jesus

GODS WORD

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:16-17.

WORDS BY KEN AND DOTTIE

A Christian commits to living a life of service. During the Christmas season there are many opportunities for service. In these two verses the apostle Paul gives us five guidelines that should admonish us and give us direction in living a Christian life of service.

First of all, if we are going to live a service life for our Lord we must “let the word of Christ dwell in us richly.” We must read God’s Word, we must study God’s Word and we must saturate our lives with God’s Word. It must dwell within us and be part of all that we do.

Secondly, these verses tell us that we are “In all wisdom, to teach and admonish one another.” When the Holy Spirit makes you rich and dwells within you, you must share what you have with others. The riches of His saving grace are to be shared with the lost. And when the Holy Spirit gives us a greater understanding of any part of God’s Word we must pass it on to others.

The third direction He gives us in these verses is WORSHIP. You are never qualified to serve unless you first worship your Lord. And we are to worship with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.

And fourthly, Paul tells us that whatever we do, we do it in word first. This includes preaching a sermon, teaching a Sunday school class, visiting the sick, reading the scriptures to someone or even giving out a tract to share the plan of salvation to a non-believer. Then Paul says to do it in deed. This means that whatever your lot in life is that you do it unto the Lord. It may be to clean the house, wash the dishes or run a business.

And then Paul tells us that we are to give thanks to God the Father through Jesus Christ. We all have so much to be thankful for as we enter the Christmas season. Just think about all you have and then take the time to thank God for ALL of His blessings to you.

We were told the story just this morning that in a school in middle America several sixth grade students brought Christmas cards to some of their classmates. This is putting action to the word service. When the teacher saw the two children giving their friends the cards they were taken to the principal’s office because they broke the rules. Their parents were called to the school in order to have the children get back to their class room. These children were doing service to their friends and wishing them, through a simple card, to have a MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Every year we put a small Nativity scene along with a big star in our front yard. We do this as a SERVICE to our Lord. The scripture says we are to act in word and deed, thus we do this just as the two sixth grade children had done with their Christmas cards. Last night we noticed a young mother pushing a stroller for two and holding the hand of a third child come to the front of our house. She stopped and pointed out to her three children the star, the manger, the baby Jesus and Mary and Joseph. This display points out to our neighborhood what we believe to be the reason for the season.

You may have the large responsibility of being the bread earner or the maintainer of your home but the scripture says that for you to be successful you must represent Jesus in all that you do. You as a Christian are God’s representative to the world. Again the apostle Paul tells us to “Do all in the name of the Lord.” When we do, God will bless our efforts and keep us from becoming frustrated and discouraged with our heavy responsibilities.

When we regard our work as an act of service to God it gives us a better attitude. Colossians 4:23-24 reads: “What ever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for man,” since you know you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Jesus Christ whom you are serving.” Jesus said in Mark 9:41 that “For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, you will by no means lose your reward.

As we prepare for the Celebration of the birth of Jesus let us remember that He expects us to prepare by living a service life and a life of faith.

OUR MEMORY VERSE FOR THIS WEEK IS.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER

Thank You Father, in the name of Jesus, for all You have given me. Help me to learn, as the scripture admonishes me, to let thy word dwell in my heart. Help me to learn to worship you and then to do all that I do in word and in deed in the name of Jesus my Savior and Lord.