“¹⁹For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.” – 1 Corinthians 9:19 (ESV)

Paul made himself a “servant to all”. He was able to identify with everyone in his work to win them to Christ.

“²⁰To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. ²¹To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. ²²To the weak I became weak, that I might wing the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.” – 1 Corinthians 9:20-22 (ESV)

Paul states that he was a bit of a chameleon in his approach to winning others for Christ. He was Jew when it called for it, he was gentile at times, and he was weak when needed as well. Paul was “all thing to all people” in the context of saving them from this world for Christ.

Paul, at the end of his ministry was exhausted, and after my study this morning I see why. His work was mentally taxing. Let alone that he was beaten and persecuted, he was constantly adjusting to those around him to influence them toward Christ. He demonstrated at all times the work of Christ while putting on the veil of those he was working with.

I have chosen the word “authentic” to live out this year and my morning bible study has helped me to understand that does not mean I have to avoid others. I must continue to move closer to them at all times while doing the work of God that He has written for me. I am to work while here in this world and rest when my time is done. Like Paul, I should exhaust myself in service to the Father.

Are you willing to be the chameleon and assimilate to others in service of God? What are some things that you can do to live a life of Christ, even in the midst of those outside of the life of Christ? Are you willing to serve for the sake of the Father?

“¹³No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” – Luke 16:13 (ESV)

Wow, what a statement of truth. I cannot be devoted to God and devoted to money. In effect, as devoted, I am a servant of, and therefore cannot be a servant of God and a servant of money.

But there is more to it than just that. In this passage, Luke 16:1-13, Jesus is telling the parable of the dishonest manager. And whereas there is a lot to unpack in the passage, verse 13 only gets me started in understanding. When I look back at verse 9, Jesus is telling the disciples to use their money to “make friends”.

“⁹And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.” – Luke 16:9 (ESV)

When I read this verse on its own, I see that I should “make friends” by using my wealth. This confused me into thinking that I should buy friendships with my money. But what Jesus is really referring to after some study is that I should “use wealth and possessions for the care and well-being of others so that when wealth does fail, ‘they may receive you into the eternal dwellings’” (ESV Commentary).

It is okay to earn a living and even a good living, however I have to remember not to serve that living and focus my attention on serving God. I should be using my earnings to care for those around me as I carry out my kingdom purpose.

How are you using your earthly possessions? What is the purpose of your earnings? When you look back on it, will others care for you when your wealth fails?

I have wondered how much time I should spend working for others and when will I receive rewards for the work I have done. As I read Jesus’ parable of the talents, I am reminded of what being a good and faithful servant is all about.

“²⁰And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ ²¹His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” – Matthew 25:20-21(ESV)

I see here that the servant was placed in charge of a significant item (5 talents) and went immediately to grow the talents for his master. In the parable, there is no mention to why the servant worked to grow the talents for his master. There is no indication that he was given instructions to do so, and there is nothing that says there would be a reward for doing good work for the master. The servant simply felt it was his duty to do the good work as the master would do and look at opportunities to increase what he has been placed in charge.

I wonder sometimes if I am placing too much emphasis on my own reward and missing the greater good that comes from simply doing as those above me would have me do? I should be looking at the goodness in the work and not seeking the external or overt rewards.

When I am focused on the work that is my mission, “Improve lives through growth and learning as an example of Christ’s love”, I am joyful and excited at the intrinsic rewards of their growth. I am in the business of growing, developing, and leading others to their kingdom purpose and when someone realizes their worth, I should be joyful and sit back to take it all in as my reward.

When you are out in the world, are you focused on servant-hood? Are you looking for the extrinsic or intrinsic reward you receive from your service? What would it be like if you simply found joy in the work as a servant?

“²⁶It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,” – Matthew 20:26 (ESV)

I have found myself in a position where I am questioning my place. It seems as though I continue to offer recommendations and suggestions for improvement based on the experience I have and yet it appears that I continue to be ignored and looked over as if I am not needed. And to say that I am thrilled to be in this position would be utterly false.

I am blessed to have those in my life that I can trust to keep things in perspective. Based on conversations had, I have been able to take a look from another side and recognize that I should embrace the position I am in and realize that my role is to serve those that I can impact and take the time and effort to live my mission with them.

I have to be careful in my approach in that I cannot slight my responsibilities or treat others in a perceived negative way. I have to simply serve where I can and do the work that needs to be done. “If you see something that needs to be don, don’t wait to be asked. Take the initiative and do it like a faithful servant. (NIV Commentary)” It is my role to provide guidance for those in my care and give them what is needed for them to continue to grow and learn.

“²⁷and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, ²⁸even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his live as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:27-28 (ESV)

It is not my role to be a ransom for many like my Savior, Jesus Christ, but it is my job to serve as he served and provide guidance to those around me and those that I interact with.

Are you looking to be great? What approach have you been taking to be great? What if you turned and only served to be great instead of being great to serve?

“¹¹Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.” – Isaiah 53:11 (ESV)

From Isaiah 52:13 through 53:12 Isaiah tells of the Messiah, and how He bears all for you and I. And all through the passage, Jesus just took it all without saying a word. He knew and owned that He was here for me. He served me. He loved me.

I find myself in difficult situations and wanting to speak out, in fact I even had “stand” as my word of the year once. I feel as though I should be standing for others, especially those that are not able to stand for themselves.

Well, it appears that I have been doing it wrong. I should be serving others. Standing is a trait I chose as for all of my life I have felt as though I am not treated the same as others. As an example, I find myself in “conversations” where because I am not overly outspoken, I seem to be ignored. My voice is rarely heard. I begin to speak only to have the others in the “conversation” seem to tune me out and move on to another part of the interaction.

Maybe, I am set up to be the one who does. Maybe instead of being the one that others listen to, I am supposed to be the one that takes the action. I am the one who serves others. I am the one that bears the brunt of all so that those around me don’t have to.

Jesus came to serve not to be served. I should embrace that and just continue doing the will of God.

Are you looking for the area where you are in charge? Are you looking for your opportunity to be served? What if you took the chance and served as the bearer for all?

“¹Now the young man Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli…” – 1 Samuel 3:1 (ESV)

You can see above that Samuel was doing the Lord’s Work under the tutelage of Eli. Samuel had been learning the work of the Lord and yet he did not know God. And so, God called him three times, to which Samuel went to Eli believing it was he that called him.

How often have I missed the calling of the Lord as I have not worked to know Him? How often have I just been so focused on God’s Work and not heard Him reaching out to me for some other purpose?

Eli recognized that the Lord was calling Samuel and advised him to answer. Three times Samuel was called. Shouldn’t I realize I should answer or go well before the forth time as Samuel?

And when he finally “heard the Lord” he answered;

“¹⁰And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant hears.’” – 1 Samuel 3:10 (ESV)

Samuel knew the work he was doing with Eli was for the glory of the Lord, however he did not really know the Lord until this moment. I have to listen and steal away from doing all the “work” and allow God to speak to me so that I can understand the work I am doing and how it will glorify Him.

When you are doing the work, is your head down so much that you are missing out on the instruction? Are you so focused on serving that you miss the reason for the work? Are you aware that serving is more than just doing, and sometimes you have to listen?

I sometimes feel, like right now, that the difficulty, adversity, and challenges should be resolved much faster than they are.

“¹How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? ²How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?” – Psalm 13:1-2 (ESV)

David felt the same way. I am comforted when reading this passage. As I continue the passage of Psalm 13, I am reminded of the approach to take. As in the next 2 verses as David prays for help.

“³Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, ⁴let my enemy say, ‘I have prevailed over him,’ lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.” – Psalm 13:3-4 (ESV)

So David first laments his questions as to the timing of God’s deliverance. Next, he again prays again for help from God. And finally, he states his confidence in eventual deliverance.

“⁵But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. ⁶I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.” – Psalm 13:5-6 (ESV)

It is okay to question God. He is sovereign and He provides for my needs. But that does not mean that I am to be silent. God is my Father and I should be asking questions for guidance. When things are not going the way I thought they should, I have to ask.

I know that as a corporate training professional, one of the things I stress in class is for the participants to take charge of their learning. A key part of that is to ask the questions they need answers to, and no question is off limits. I should be doing the same with God. He is the one that knows all and therefore doesn’t it make sense to ask Him? The answer I get may not be what I wanted, but I have to trust that He will provide when needed.

Have you asked God? Have you declared your trust in Him? Remembering that God’s timing is perfect, will declare your confidence in His deliverance, no matter how long?

“⁸Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people!” – Psalm 3:8 (ESV)

Who does salvation belong to, God! Here I am looking at salvation as the action and who is responsible for it. God gives salvation at His time and not my own.

Only God has the power to give salvation (yes, I say give). I am only a man and do the tasks that are asked of me here in this world. I am working for God and His Glory. I have been and will be persecuted and it is God that delivers me from that adversity. He allows for me to endure and I have to remember that He will only allow what He knows I can handle. When I reach the point that there is no more I can do, He will provide the salvation I need in just the moment I need it.

As I read the passage this morning and studied the commentary, I found that David is actually fleeing his son Absalom here. He is running for his life and what does he have to say, “your blessings be on your people!” David is wishing blessings on Absalom and all those that persecute. He does not wish them any particular harm, only he knows that God will deliver him from them and David only wants the best for them.

The salvation provided by God is for me and I have to remember that. I have to remember to let God take care of my enemies as He sees fit. God will protect and provide for me and that is where I have to remember to place my thanksgiving and glorifying.

When you are persecuted, what is your ask of God? Are you looking for certain actions be taken? Are you working for God and allowing Him to give salvation to you without thought to what you want for those persecuting you?

This morning as I read and study, the thing that stood our was consistence. The verse that brought me to the passage:

“²³Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day.” – 1 Chronicles 16:23 (ESV)

David declares that we are to go day to day sharing the same message. Notice the exclamation point in the first part indicating to sing with emphasis and not just go through the motions.

I wonder what percentage of days I go through the motions. How often am I just saying the words and not really singing or living them?

The process that I follow with my study is to find the verse, read it, and then read before and after to gain context and work through understanding what it is and why God may have brought me to this passage. This morning is no different and verse 23 was the verse and therefore I was driven to read the passage of verse 8-36. In the passage, titled “David’s Song of Thanks” in my ESV, David uses the words and phrases; continually, forever, day to day, everlasting to everlasting. Each of those indicates the consistency that stood out to me.

“¹¹Seek the Lord and his strength; see his presence continually!” – 1 Chronicles 16:11 (ESV)

I am responsible to continually and consistently seek Him, “sing” to Him and declare Him. I have to represent all that God offers and provides. I am to be here and available at all times.

When are you seeking, singing to, and declaring God? What is your daily countenance when it comes to our Lord and Savior? Day to day and continually?

“⁴⁷The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation,” – 2 Samuel 22:47 (ESV)

Samuel declares here that the Lord is his rock and lives. I look at this verse and the thing that stands out to me is that He lives. The Lord lives in the time of Samuel, which is before Jesus by over 1000 years. Let that sink in a bit, 1000 years before, Christ arrived, it was recognized that God lives.

Samuel recognized that God was with him and provided salvation. Shouldn’t it be easier for me to recognize the salvation provided by God in the form of Christ’s sacrifice. After all, I have come after and know it to be true.

The thing is that 1000 years before and now 2000 years after, God is my salvation. Samuel even made it known that God would provide forever.

“⁵¹Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever.” – 2 Samuel 22:51 (ESV)

God provides for His children forever and I am glad to be included in the lot of God’s children. When I accepted Christ as my Savior, I acknowledged Him forevermore.

When you look at your relationship with Christ, how do you see it? What timing your interpretation of salvation provide you? Are you aware of God’s salvation provided forever?