A servant…

I started to look at Romans this morning but I didn’t get further than the first verse, there’s so much in those first few words…

‘Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,’

A servant – doulos – one devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interest.

Called – klētos – invited or appointed

Separated – aphorizō – set apart unto the gospel of God.

Friends, this is the life of each true believer.

There’s a dying to self and sin, that crucifying of our old lusts and desires…

‘And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.’

so that we might rise in newness of life, a life which is no more about us but Christ who lives in and through us.

Friends…

‘If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.’ by God’s grace, living a set apart life, a life devoted to Christ to the extent of disregarding our own interests.

Each child of God is appointed, called, to live for the glory of God, to make known His love and the good news of the gospel by His grace both by the way we live our lives and by what we say when God gives us the opportunity.

We’re not called as apostles like Paul but we each have our calling, each set apart for God’s glory to live a life devoted to Him, to the One who gave ‘His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’

It’s so easy to think about what WE would like to do with OUR life, make plans and goals and have dreams and this isn’t necessarily bad if we hold them loosely, seeking God’s will in them, rememering in everything we do, that life is not about US.

What did Paul say at the moment of his conversion one that Damascus road?…

‘Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?’

How often do I really live like this, how often do you?

Friends, do we really live our days as one set apart for God putting our own interests to one side, seeking His will for the day?

How often do we begin our day with a ‘Lord, what wilt thou have me to do’ today? Are we seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance in each decision?

“Lord, so help us to live today and every day!”

What then if God’s plan is not how we wanted the day to look or something messes up our plans for the week?…

‘He giveth more grace’, Friends, He really does and I’ve proved the joy of it in those moments when I’ve been helped to set aside my own agenda for God’s. God gives us the grace to do His will and the joy that comes with obedience.

‘God resisteth the proud,…’ the one who wants to go in his own way or thinks he knows best or can manage alone…’but giveth grace unto the humble.’ gives us everything we need to live for Him through Christ.

‘Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he WILL draw nigh to you.’

Life is NOT about ME and life is NOT about YOU Friend and if we seek help to remember this and live our lives dedicated to God even in the mundane of day to day life, we’ll live lives filled with true joy!

.

Rom 1:1, Gal 5:24,25, John 3:16, Acts 9:6, James 4:6-8.

.

Photos courtesy of Lizzy Kerley