Today's Bible Study, Authored by Arthur Cincotti. 11/21/2021
Listen to our Bible Study Discussion at: Bible Study Podcast
Love to be in the Service
“I beseech you therefore, brethern, by the mercies of God, that
you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which
is your reasonable service”
Rom. 12:1
The Hebrew word
“service” (H5656) is aboda, which means: work of any kind – act,
bondage, bondservant, effect, labour, ministering (try), office, service (-ile,
-itude), tillage, use, work, x wrought.
It comes from (H5647) abad,
which is used in Gen. 2:5 & 15 and translated “till, and tend”
respectively.
It is not used in
Gen. 3:17 for the word “toil”.
This notion of servitude
unto God is a central theme in Scripture, and an aspect of our relationship
with God that is seldom unpacked.
We begin with the basic premise that God doesn’t need us to
do anything for Him or any aspect of the creation. Ps. 50:12, “If I were
hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all its fullness.”
Yet we are created with
purpose, and function. Gen. 2:15, “The LORD God placed the man in
the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it.” As a steward over God’s creation, since God created both man and
the garden. Man’s service was unto God, but it was also mutually beneficial for
his own well being.
In the similar way that a father invites his children
into a family, business, ministry, or ideology, God invites us to be
participants in His family. Preferably willing participants!
What does our service
look like in the New Covenant?
We use the word
“service” rather flippantly.
We call it a, “worship service”, or we say, “servant of God”
which is more appropriately
translated “slave”.
If we return to the
notion of purpose and function, The Westminster Confession tells us that the
“chief end” (purpose) of man is to glorify God, and enjoy Him forever.”
We glorify God by
choosing to give Him our attention, (attending to)
Our worship is vertical, expressing to
God our sense of His worth.
Our praise is horizontal, expressing to one another the
same.
“And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord” Lk.
1:46
We may serve God through a particular religious calling, or
vocation. Eph. 4:11,12, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some
prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors, and teachers, for the equipping
of the saints for the work of the ministry…”
We serve God by approaching everything that we do, with joy,
as unto Him. Col. 3:23, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord
and not to men.”
This in an important truth drawn out of Scripture,
by the Reformation.
We serve God by paying attention to His Word, and acting
accordingly in obedience. We may not think of obedience as a service, but more
a duty. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters…” Mat. 6:24; and Jn. 14:15,
“If you love Me, keep My…”
This is working in
harmony, or one accordedness with God’s created order, agreeing
with Him, “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very
good.” Gen. 2:31
Jesus served us! Heb. 9:1-15...v. 14, “...cleanse your conscience
from dead works to serve the living God”
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