Paul saw his whole identity as a Christian as summed up in being a serving slave of Jesus Christ.
Most of his epistles begin with a simple statement of introduction: Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ. Our Lord Himself took on the form of a servant being made in the likeness of men. He did not come to be served, but rather to serve and give His life as a ransom for sin.

The word “serve” in the Bible translates a Greek word: diakonia. From this word we get the English transliteration: Deacon.
We also see this word translated many times by the word: ministry. It is a broad term that speaks widely of service and care for others.

As we have been studying the gifts of the spirit we have seen that they fall broadly into two main categories: speaking gifts and serving gifts. Today we look at these serving gifts. Paul mentions four: serving, leading, giving, mercy.

We will see that leading, giving and mercy are really explanations of some of the main ways we serve others. We serve as leaders, we serve by giving resources to those in need, and we serve by showing mercy to those in distress.
Jesus taught us that the way leaders lead in His kingdom is not by rank and power but rather but stooping low to serve.
Jesus taught that giving to others is an important part of our stewardship and Jesus taught us by His example what it looks like to show mercy to those who are hurting and in distress.

All Christians are to be growing in the grace of serving. Serving is a nonnegotiable of Christ likeness. It is not only a gift, it is also a command to be obeyed: serve on another as I have served you.
However, there are also certain believers who have specific aptitudes by the Spirit that enriches their service to a higher degree than most. These are high callings and special endowments.
Let us look on them as such.

Because of grace,
Tim

The post Growing in Grace appeared first on EBCSV.

The loving-kindness of God. “Loving-kindness” is a word coined by a man named Miles Coverdale back in the late 1500’s to translate the Hebrew word ‘hesed’. Hesed is one of the richest words in all the Bible. It has been variously translated into English with such words as:
compassion, mercy, steadfast love, covenant loyalty. It is such a heavily nuanced word that it is actually very difficult to translate into our language. It expresses three parallel thoughts:
“(1.) a feeling in the heart of love (2.) that results in actions of mercy and grace (3.) because of a prior covenantal relationship.”

It’s hard for translators to put all that into one word. It ties very nicely with the N.T. Greek word- charis (grace). The term “loyal-love” expresses the thought closely.

So today we study the fact that when God makes a covenant with his people He faithfully discharges the obligations of that covenant. But, not only does He faithfully discharge His obligations- He does so from a heart full of love. What a great God we love!

“Through the LORD’S mercies (hesed) we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22-23

The words of the little chorus fit nicely:
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
His mercies never come to end,
They are new every morning,
New every morning,
Great is Thy faithfulness O Lord,
Great is Thy faithfulness.”

And so it is
Because of grace,
Tim

The post His Love Endures Forever appeared first on EBCSV.