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Servanthood : No Task too small (Acts 11v22-24).
If any early church leader could be called a
servant it is Barnabas. He took initiative and did whatever it took to raise morale, men or
money. He led with clarity and example by becoming a servant. He considered no task too
small.
What allowed Barnabas to demonstrate such a lifestyle ?
He had:
- Nothing to prove : Barnabas didn't have to play games. He never sought the limelight. When
he mentored Paul he happily let the emerging Apostle rise above him; Barnabas didn't feel
the need to project his own self-worth or prove himself to anyone.
- Nothing to lose : Barnabas
didn't have to guard his reputation or fear that he would lose popularity. He came to serve,
not to be served. This enabled him to focus on giving, not getting. As a servant, he had no
rights to lose.
- Nothing to hide : Barnabas didn't maintain a facade or image. He remained
authentic, vulnerable, and transparent. He could rejoice with others' victories ( Acts 11:23 )
and never wondered about his own fame.
If GOD called you to be another Barnabas to another
Paul - if you knew that this new emerging leader would soon overshadow you - would you
accept the call ? In other words, are you a servant ? You must love your people more than
your position.
Worth thinking about !? I think so.
Ray - Spiritual Advisor, Christchurch Branch.
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| "Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it; that
He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle; but that it should be holy and without
blemish"
- Ephesians 5:25-27.
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Jesus' work for the sinner was so great and wonderful that it
was necessary for Him to give Himself on the cross for that work.
Jesus' love for us was so
great and wonderful that He actually gave Himself for us and to us.
Jesus' surrender is so
great and wonderful that all which He gave Himself for can be truly and entirely ours.
For
Jesus, the Holy, the Almighty, has taken it upon Himself to do it. He gave Himself for us.
And now the one necessary thing is that we should rightly understand and firmly believe in
His surrender for us.
To what end, then, was it that He gave Himself for the Church ? Hear
what God says. The aim of Jesus is that He might sanctify the Church so that it would be
without blemish.
He will attain His aim in the soul as long as the soul falls into His will,
makes His will its most important consideration, and relies on Jesus' surrender of Himself
to do so.
Hear this word of God, "Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all
iniquity, and purify unto Himself a people for His own possession, zealous of good works"
(Titus 2:14).
Jesus gave Himself in order to prepare for Himself a pure people, a people of
His own, a zealous people. When I receive Him, and when I believe that He gave Himself for
me, I will certainly experience it. I will be purified through Him. I will be held securely as
His possession and be filled with zeal and joy to work for Him.
And notice how the operation
of this surrender of Himself will result in His having us entirely for Himself - "that He
might present us to Himself," "that He might purify us to Himself, a people of His own."
The more I understand and contemplate Jesus' surrender of Himself for me, the more I give
myself again to Him. The surrender is a mutual one - the love comes from both sides. His
giving of Himself makes such an impression on my heart, that my heart, with the self-same
love and joy, becomes entirely His. Through giving Himself to me, He takes possession of me.
He becomes mine and I become His. I know that I have Jesus wholly for me, and that He has
me wholly for Himself.
And how do I come to the full enjoyment of this blessed life? "I live
by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).
Through faith, I reflect on and contemplate His surrender to me as sure and glorious.
Through faith, I believe it. Through faith, I trust in Jesus to confirm this surrender, to
communicate Himself to me, and to reveal Himself within me. Through faith, I await - with
certainty - the full experience of salvation which comes from having Jesus as mine, to do
all for me. Through faith, I live in Jesus who loved me and gave Himself for me. And I say,
"No longer do I live, but Christ liveth in me" (Galatians 2:20).
Christian, please believe
with your whole heart that Jesus gives Himself for you. He is wholly yours. He will do all for
you.
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Lord Jesus, what wonderful grace is this, that You gave Yourself for me. In You there is
eternal life. You are the life, and You give Yourself to be all that I need in my life. You purify
me, sanctify me, and make me zealous in good works, take me wholly for Yourself and give
Yourself wholly for me. Yes, my Lord, in all You are my life. Make me rightly understand
this. Amen.
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