From: "Beverly French" <frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us>
To: "Heritage" <gheritage.ga@verizon.net>
Subject: Blessings to All
Date: Sunday, September 29, 2002 6:48 AM

"Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ."
Galatians 6:2
"So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and
especially to those who are of the household of the faith."
Galatians 6:10

In this day of so many demands on our time we often fail to see the needs of
others.  The first questions may be: Are these demands of our own making?
Are we hiding behind busyness to keep from helping others, consciously or
unconsciously?  Are we depending on someone else to do the helping?  Are
we really expected to give up our wants for someone else's needs?  Each
needs to answer these questions before the Lord.   Not only do the above
Scriptures speak of our service to others, but there are many others that I
want to share with you.

Jesus speaking to His disciples concerning who would sit in places of honor
said, "...Whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant;
and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all."  Mark 43-44

Jesus speaking of the one who exemplifies neighborliness said in the parable
of the good Samaritan,
"Which of these three do you think proved to be neighbor to the man who fell
into the robbers' hands?  And he said, 'The one who showed mercy toward
him.'  And Jesus said to him, 'Go and do the same.'"  Luke 10:36-37
(Read the whole parable, Vs 25-37)

Service is Christlikeness as we see in His example in the washing of the
disciples' feet,
"If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to
wash one another's feet.  For I gave you an example that you also should do
as I did to you."  John 13:14-15

Service is a demonstration of love as we see in Jesus' call to Peter to tend
His sheep,
"He said to him again a second time 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?'
He said to Him, 'Yes Lord, You know that I love You.'  He said to him, 'Tend
My sheep'"  John 21:16

"For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as
an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."
Galatians 5:13

The Apostle Paul here limits his own rights for ministry as we see in
1 Corinthians 9:19,
"For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all,
that I might win the more."
True believers are to be the expression of Christ and in so doing "win the
more".

Our service is to be rendered unto the Lord,
"Not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing
the will of God from the heart."  Ephesians 6:6
"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for
men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the
inheritance.  It is the Lord Christ whom you serve."  Colossians 3:23-24.

We are not our own, we are the Lord's, therefore our time is in His hands
and He will arrange our schedules that we may be of service to others!

Help us Lord to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit who leads and guides as we
live out from You doing Your will.
For we sing:
Not my will, but Thine be done,
That the fullness of the Son,
May dwell within this life that I have offered You.
Until everything I do is the thing that pleases you,
Abba Father I will be a son indeed.
Amen.