Some time ago I came to appreciate the true and certain fact that God has a plan for me in these last days and I sure don’t want to fail Him in the doing of it. (Some of you share in that grace by your faithfulness in supporting what we do here on this property; Philip. 1:7 “you are partakers of my grace”.)

        Now while it is true that it took most of my life to realize these things and get with His program—that seeming delay was also foreseen by God and factored into His plans. And so, I wonder at times about you but now ask out loud, what are the plans that the eternal God and your Savior has for your life? If you haven’t come to terms with that yet, He is waiting for you to ask, to seek and to knock on this subject in order to get you actively working in the Divine purposes for your life.

        As He did with me, I have no doubt that God has been preparing you all along for your work by the situations of your life; He’s just waiting for you to make yourself sincerely available.

        What I am causing you to look at today is how you are living your life as one that is to be a servant of God and professes to be a follower of Jesus, if you do. A true follower of Jesus is concerned with obedience to His commands and what the Bible teaches us about becoming a holy one in fact and not just in name as the word “saint” means.

We Have  “THE HOLY SPIRIT”  Dwelling Within Us

        Yes, for born again ones we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, and where God is is holy, but that fact also needs to begin to consume all that is worldly about each of us; yet, so many do not submit to the sanctification process.

        As to being a servant of God, a different and needful consideration, this involves the follower of Jesus being available to be an extension of what the mouth and hands of the Lord Jesus wants to speak and to do here on the earth today at the behest of the Father.

        We each are members of the Body of Christ on the earth to go and speak and do what like Jesus did when He walked the earth. Just as Jesus spoke what He heard the Father speak and Jesus did what He saw the Father doing so are we to be in such a close relationship with God as to perceive what He wants us to say and to physically do. This works hand-in-hand with the obedience we are to practice as followers of the Father’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now Here Is  “THE RUB”  As They Say

        Now here is “the rub”, as they say (a point of contention); we in this generation especially are so distracted by the attitude and desires of our culture that we are single-focused on making and having money, gathering possessions unto ourselves, enjoying our lives to the exclusion of what others need and what God might be asking of us, which is why He placed you and me in these last days.

        The people of God today have become like so many of the world with varying levels of narcissism (a personality style centered on self; extreme self-involvement that ignores the needs of others and includes an addiction to fantasy [or excessive amounts of entertainment]).

        Does God forbid our having wealth and possessions? Does He oppose our times of recreation and the enjoyment of our labors and accomplishments? No—unless it has become our god, which is idolatry and often adulterous rendezvous’ with the world’ a world that hates the God that we are to love and serve.

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† Deuteronomy 8:11 Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: 12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; 13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; 14 [Beware] Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God. . . 17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. 18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. [Also († 1 Corinthians 4:7)]

        So we must take care often to examine our lives against what God’s Word requires of us, if we are indeed a follower or Jesus and willing to be a servant of God in these times. Now as to our serving God in this last generation, in what ways might He want to use you? What opportunities should we be watchful for?

Please consider these and wonder about other ways that I do not list:             •   Live a life of faith in God and in His Word and be faithful unto death              •   Be a witness for Jesus to another              •   Pray with or for someone or about a need or situation pressed on your heart              •   Help another person or family in need              •   Support a genuine Christian work in reaching the lost              •   Volunteer at a place helping others (Christian-based or not)              •   Preparing to be locally charitable when serious trouble happens

        These things and others are opportunities that come up and some are always available; ways that God desires we invest ourselves in the lives of others as His servants. Keep this next passage in mind as I remind you of what our Bibles instruct us about service to God in these last days:

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† Psalm 32:8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. 9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: at whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

† Luke 17:7 But which of you, [as a master with slaves] having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? 8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? 9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. 10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. [Profit (ed, eth, able) used 31 times in the New Testament.]

† Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Now having pointed out our call to serve God, I hope that you will with an open heart, hear what else His Word says about our opportunities to serve and represent Him

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† Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. ... 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

† Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

† Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of [legalistic] works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

† Proverbs 3:27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. 28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

† 1 Timothy 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

† James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

† Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

† Revelation 22: [Having mentioned the obedience of the followers of Jesus and the servants of God, we are promised this:] 12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be [as servants]. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments [as obedient ones], that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

The opportunities we see & hear the Lord’s urging about are the good works we are to do by faith — let’s not turn away or make excuses. We are to be followers of Jesus and servants of the living God. “Watch” for the opportunities that God arranges.

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~ Brother Scott ... With ... The Right Word^© ... For Today~

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