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Apples of Gold
Radio Script for November 4, 2010
“Does Your Service Show Up on the Radar?”
Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.
I know your service.
That’s what Jesus said to the church in Thyatira, in Revelation 2:19. He said, “I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.”
That’s a long list of things Jesus said He was aware of, so let’s focus on just one, their service. When you compact that sentence you end up with Jesus saying this, “I know…your service…”
Jesus was aware of their service, and that’s a good thing. And then I ask myself this question. Is Jesus aware of my service?
Do I have any service for Jesus to be aware of? Do I have enough service that He might bring it up? In Jesus’ eyes, would I be known for my service?
First of all, what is service? The dictionary has a mile-long definition, so I’ll boil it down to this one word: assistance. When we serve, we provide assistance. We help.
Serving, in a sense, puts us below whoever we are serving. Their desires come before our desires.
If you go to a restaurant, the waiter serves you by catering to your desires, not his own. I’m sure it’s not his personal desire to bring you another clean fork because you dropped yours on the floor, but since he is there to serve you, your desires come before his.
To take a look at our service we need to check and see how we are doing at assisting and helping, at putting others’ desires before our own.
Of course at the top of the list is serving God.
In Matthew 4 Jesus was tempted by Satan. In verse 10 Jesus finally told him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’”
Other scriptures tell us to serve the Lord. Romans 12:11 says, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”
Hebrews 9:14 says that Jesus’ blood cleanses our consciences so that we can serve the living God.
So what does it mean to serve God? Does it mean He needs help?
Not exactly. Paul said in Acts 17:25 that God is not served by human hands, “as if He needed anything. Rather, He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.”
But we are His assistants on the earth, and in that way, we serve Him.
Jesus had a lot to say about service. For example, there was a time when His disciples were, believe it or not, arguing over which of them was the greatest. It prompted Jesus to deliver this powerful short sermon on service. Here it is.
He said, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as One who serves.”
Jesus set the example for service. Mark 10:45 says that “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
“Well Doug, if we are to serve God and Him only, where does serving people come in?”
Here’s how that works. Part of serving God is serving people. Now listen to this twist on it. Both Ephesians and Colossians talk about serving people, and doing it as if we were serving the Lord, not the people.
I take that to mean that we don’t look at the people or their reactions or whether they look like the type we feel like serving, or whatever. We serve people, yes, but we are serving them as a service to the Lord.
Did you follow that? Ephesians 6:7 says, “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.”
Colossians 3:23 says, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”
So we serve God, and we serve people. Galatians 5:13 gives us the proper attitude for this service. It says to “serve one another humbly in love.”
There are many different ways to serve, almost as many different ways as there are people, so look around. How can you assist someone? Who can you give a leg up to and give them a boost? Who can you help?
We need to be people of service, and do it to a degree that we show up on the radar like the church in Thyatira.
Someday I’d like to hear these same fulfilling words that Jesus said to them.
I know your service.
Comments?
E-mail me: dougapple@wave94.com.
May God bless you today! With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
© 2010 The Arrow’s Tip
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(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)
Why “The Arrow’s Tip”? Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold. Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.” I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.
Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL 32315
(850) 926-8000
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