A Servant Attitude

“Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All right reserved.”

            I want to take the time to delve into the subject of a servant attitude. I believe this is one of a number of key ingredients that is largely missing from the body of Christ today. So what does the Bible have to say about being a servant? Well, actually it has quite a lot to say! So who are we to serve? In this I think it important to start at the very beginning of our Christian lives – from the time we were first born of God.

Slaves of righteousness

            Let us go over to the book of Romans chapter six and begin with verse sixteen. Here we read, “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which lead to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.”

            So we see from this passage that as sinners we were, past tense, slaves of sin, but that we have from the moment we were saved, become “free from sin” and “become slaves of righteousness.”

            Now you say, “It says slaves, not servants.” That is true. However slave is merely a very strong form of the word servant. So one could say that this service is absolute – it is a very certain thing.

Slaves of god

            We now know that as saints we are not slaves to sin but rather to righteousness, but who is our master? Well, if we continue to verse 22 of the same chapter, we read, “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get lead to sanctification and its end, eternal life.” Well there is our answer; we are “slaves of God.” So the master we serve as slaves is none other than God Himself.

            So now that we know Whom we are serving, the question remains, how are we to serve? We look to Hebrews 12:28 for the answer. It states, “Therefore receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us have grace, by which we may serve God well-pleasingly, with reverence and godly fear.” There is our simple answer to our question! We are to serve “well-pleasingly, with reverence and godly fear.”

            So how do we go about this all? If we look at Romans 12:1 it is presented like this, “Therefore, brothers, I call on you through the compassions of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service.” (LITV) Now this presentation to God is a onetime act. It is not something that needs to be repeated. Just like you don’t keep handing in resumes to a place once you’re hired there.

            Is there anything else we can add to our service to God? Once again the same chapter in verse eleven gives us a little more. It says, “In diligence, not slothful, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” (LITV) So then let us serve the Lord with all diligence, being fervent in so doing.

Our bosses

            Knowing these things then, is there any other that we are called to serve? Yes, there is. We are to serve our bosses. We read thus in Ephesians 6:5-8, “Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.” Now “bondservants” are a step below “slaves.” So we are called to obey our bosses just as we would obey our heavenly master – God. We are told that this is “the will of God.” Then let us do these things in “good will as to the Lord and not to man.” Besides we are told that God himself will reward us in the end for service well done.

Serve everyone

            So this all makes sense so far; we are to serve God, and our bosses. That’s not too bad! Oh, but wait! We read in Galatians 5:13 that we are “through love” to “serve one another.” In fact it continues by saying, “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” So then it is clear that we are to render service to all people. In this way we demonstrate our love for all people. For we are told “not to love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18)

            So then one might conclude that it is of most importance to serve God and that serving people is not such a big deal. Yet this is a false conclusion. For we read, “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink: And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?’ And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did to me.’” (Matthew 5:37-40) So then we see that it is just as important that we serve God and people in the same way. For we read that “as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did to me.” So then let us be very careful how we treat others, for as we treat them, so we are treating Jesus Himself! 

Subject to god

Now closely tied in to these things is subjection. This is primarily a military term. It means to be “under the control of another” or “to yield (oneself) to the will of another.” (The Winston Canadian Dictionary)

            So then whose control are we to be under? Whose will are we to be yielded to?

            Firstly then we are to be subject to God. We read these words in James 4:6-7, “’…God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” It stands then that those who refuse to “submit” to God and his will for their lives are filled with pride. For not to humble oneself and submit to God is to be “proud” and these God naturally will “oppose.”

The body of Christ

            Secondly, the body of Christ as a whole is to be subject to Christ. It is written in Ephesians 5:23-24, “…Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ…” So we see clearly that the church is to have Christ Jesus as its head. As well it is clearly stated that the church belongs to Christ – it is “his body.” Naturally, therefore, we as saints should be subject as a whole to our Savior.

            Sometimes we hear a pastor say that this is “his/her church.” This is not true. The church belongs to Christ as here stated in the Word of God.

            Continuing with the body of Christ. We are to be subject to those who are our leaders. For it is written, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” (Hebrews 13:17)

            Does this mean that we should obey them even if what they require from us is sinful? No, for again it is written, “…obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29b) However, apart from that, we are to submit ourselves to them. For they themselves will have to give an account to God for how they lead.

            Further, the younger ones are to be subject to those who are older. For it is written in 1 Peter 5:5, “…you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”

            Of course young people often think they know better – this is pride. This is Lucifer’s path and we the younger need to submit to God and resist the devil that he flee from us. As part of this the younger need to submit themselves to those who are older. The younger have much to learn from those who are older and have experienced much more than we the younger have.

            One last thing as regards the church body. The women are not to teach but to be submissive. For it is written, “Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.” In this day and age it is becoming more popular to have woman pastors. This is in direct rebellion to God. Once again this is an act of pride and I believe there is no greater sin than pride. In fact God compares rebellion to the sin of witchcraft!

The family

            Now let us go on to learn how submission works within the family setting. Let us begin with children.

            It is written, “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.” (Colossians 3:20) Let then the children be in subjection to their parents without complaint. To not willingly obey your parents is to live in rebellion and of course this is sin of a very great magnitude! This too is the path that Satan chose! Don’t think that God will stand idly by as you live in rebellion to the parents God set over you as authorities! For once more it is written for those children who obey their parents, “’that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.’” (Ephesians 6:1)

            Even Christ Jesus as a 12 year old child submitted himself unto his earthly parents even though he was of age. For we read, “And he [Jesus] went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them.” (Luke 2:51) If Jesus, being God, submitted Himself to His parents, how much more you! Remember that as we treat our parents, we are ultimately treating Jesus Himself.

            Next in the family line are wives. Wives are to be subject unto their husbands. In this era of time we live in it seems these roles are being blurred to the extreme. Yet does the popular vote make something right? Does the majority rule over God? I think not! It is simply stated in Scripture, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:22) And again, “…as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.” (vs.24)

            I know this may be sounding old by now, but the truth is just as relevant. To not submit unto ones husband, is to be in rebellion against God Himself – that is serious! Do we really think we know better than God?! That is just what Satan the great deceiver would like us to believe – and yes, it is a lie!

            It may be the case that your husband doesn’t treat you well – it could even be that he’s not a Christian like you are. What should you do in this case you say? Good question! 1 Peter 3 has the answer. It says in verse one, “…wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct.” You might win your husband to the Lord by being “subject” to him, by being “respectful”, or by your “pure conduct”. You will not, however, win your husband by trying to be sexy! For these verses are followed by these words, “Do not let your adorning be external – the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear – but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quite spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord.” (1 Peter 3:1-6) Don’t get me wrong, it is not a sin to look beautiful. However, there is a difference between glamour and beauty. Still, the outward veneer won’t convince a husband about God’s truth – that is left for the inward beauty of a saved soul to do.

            So don’t think you will win your husband by constantly nagging him about his faults! This is not God’s will, and if it’s not God’s will then how will he get saved? Further, even if your husband is a Christian but is living contrary to God’s will, and you’re nagging him to change his ways – it will likely fail, too. You ought to win your husband in the same way.

            The feminist movement of today would like us to think that wives are in some way being treated in an inferior way by men – that is a lie. Now it is true that men can be abusive and disrespectful – that is wrong, in fact, it is sin! God will hold them accountable for their hatred and pride. However, as the saying goes, “two wrongs don’t make a right!” So then, why not do things God’s way? As creator of the universe, surely He knows what He’s doing! Besides, we are called to love our enemies and do good to those who despitefully use us – even if that is your husband. However, if the husband is obedient unto God it should be an easy thing to submit unto him as unto the Lord. To submit unto a husband who truly loves you should be a delightful thing indeed!

            Now lastly in the order of family we come to the husbands. Husbands, you have a responsibility like few others on this earth have! You are most certainly not off the hook! Let us first of all look at 1 Corinthians 7:3-5. It is written there, “The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.” So then don’t deprive your wives from their rights. To do so is sin.

            Looking then at 1 Peter 3:7 we read, “…husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” We see right here, how seriously God takes the matter of how you treat your wives – even “your prayers” will “be hindered”! Husbands, if you expect your wives to respect you and love you from the heart, then you ought to love them as you would want to be loved! After all, we are to be “submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ”, and that includes you as husbands “submitting” to your wives! (Ephesians 5:21)

            If that isn’t clear enough, the Scriptures state, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Husband, do you so love your wife that you’re willing to give up your own plans and desires in order to please your wife? Continuing, it says, “…husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church.” (Ephesians 5:25, 28-29) Husband, do you nourish and cherish your wife?

Government

            Lastly then we come to submitting ourselves to earthly authorities. Now one might think, this isn’t very important, it really has nothing to do with the church or Jesus - it’s just a secular institution. Well, I believe just the contrary is true. Let’s take a look at what God has to say on this subject in Romans 13:1-7. It says, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.”

            So then, if we “resist” the “governing authorities” we are in reality resisting those whom “God has appointed.” This is such a serious matter to God that He says we “will incur judgment.” Now these authorities are themselves God’s servants, whether they realize it or not. Therefore we ought to pay our taxes and whatever other dues there are, including “respect” and “honor.” This leaves no room for grumbling against them. They are God’s servants and will have to answer to Him as their master. Further, if we cheat on our taxes we are not respecting or honoring them and since they are God’s servants we are ultimately disrespecting God and not giving Him the honor due Him. Not to mention that cheating on your taxes is essentially a lie and therefore sin. Just because everyone else is doing this doesn’t make it right. The fact of the matter is that we as Christians are called to be different. We ought to walk in such a way that the world can’t throw a stone our way and leaves them no reason to blaspheme God’s holy name. Let us be very careful then to be in submission to those God has set over us as His authorities!

Final things

            I want to leave you with some final challenges and conclusions.

            We conclude then that we are to be subject to God, Jesus Christ, authorities within the body of Christ, husbands, wives, parents, to those older then us, to each other within the body, and to governing authorities.

            We are to serve one another, thinking of the other above ourselves. Let us then see how we can serve one another without grumbling, but willingly as unto the Lord Himself.

            I’d like to look at one final example of these things before I draw these things to a conclusion. This example is taken from Luke 6:46-49. It is written, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

            In our culture the word lord has lost most of its meaning. Vine’s defines lord as “signifying ‘having power’ or ‘authority’…variously translated” as “’Lord,’ ‘master,’ Master,’ ‘owner,’” and “’Sir.’” Indeed Jesus Christ is all of the above. In fact 1 Timothy 6:14-16 says, “Jesus Christ…he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.” We see then that the Lord Jesus Christ is the one having the ultimate “power,” and “authority.” As well the Lord Jesus Christ is thee “Master” and “owner” of everything – He has “eternal dominion!” Further we read, “Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11)

            Quite clearly Jesus Christ is “King of kings and Lord of lords.” Yet, going back to the analogy of the building of a house, some were calling Him “Lord” and yet not doing as He told them to! What do you think would be your end if you didn’t listen to your boss?! I’m quite certain you’d get fired! Indeed how “great” a “ruin” will be to the one who doesn’t “do” as the Lord tells them to! For we read, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:21-23)

            What, then, is the will of God? For the unsaved to “repent.” That is for the lost sinner to change their mind about their faulty beliefs of how to get to heaven and accept His message for them. For it is written, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

            Now finally, as a believer, have you submitted to the Lord’s will for your life once for all?

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“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

1Corinthians 13:4-7

Victor Reimer

Feel free to email me at focusingonjesus@gmail.com

The Royal Road to Victory and Vic's Testimony

The Royal Road to Victory

How to Say Goodbye to Despair

And Discouragement

In Your Life

Scripture taken from the New King James Version:

Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

or

“Scripture taken from KJ3 Literal Translation Bible, First Edition,

Copyright 2006-2010

Used by permission of the copyright holder, Mary V. Green”

*All Scripture texts taken from NKJV except where otherwise noted.

*Any bold text words are mine.

            Christian friend, are you finding the Christian life an adventure? Do you look forward to tomorrow with great anticipation? Are you expectantly waiting to see what God will do in your life, or are you finding the Christian life a disappointment? Do you find yourself utterly defeated day by day, having a mountain top experience one day, and the next you find yourself in the depths of the valley?

          If the latter is true in your life, then know that God has something better in mind for you. It is not His plan for you to wander around in the wilderness of defeat and discouragement. There is a life of victory and of power available to you and for all of God’s children. This is the message of hope we desire to share with you.

          There are two reasons that this type of experience could be true in your life. The first may be that you think you are a Christian, but have never actually been saved in the first place. If you think this could even be the slightest possibility, then please take the time to read Vic’s testimony at the end first. If, however, you are absolutely convinced that you are a believer then continue on reading to find out the other reason that you may be having this kind of experience in your life…

         

          So many believers blame other people for the defeat in their lives. In effect they’re saying, “It is other people that make me feel discouraged. If it were not for them, I could be living victoriously.” On the other hand they may be saying, “If it were not for my circumstance, then I, too, could be living a victorious Christian life. In this way they end up blaming other people and circumstances for their defeated lives.

          In this the Christian greatly errs. The true reason for your defeated life is that you have refused to submit to the will of God for your life. You have, in essence, said, “I know better than God.” Just like in the garden in Eden Adam blamed the woman - telling God it was the woman He gave that was the problem! So, ultimately, when you blame other people and circumstances, you are blaming God for your defeated life. If you truly desire to experience true, lasting victory in your own life, you must come to terms with the message that God Almighty has given us in His Holy Word…

“In everything give thanks;

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

1Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV

The “What” of It

          The “what” of it is spelled out in the words, “In everything give thanks.” This is a straightforward command that God has every right to expect His children to comply with. There are many reasons as to why we must obey this significant instruction that God our Father has given to us, His children, but the following will suffice to make the point.

          The first reason being “…you are not your own…you were bought at a price.”1 Jesus Himself has purchased us with His very own precious blood, and therefore we belong to Him.

          For example, if you buy an item in a store, the moment you pay for it, it becomes yours. It is your very own possession, and you may do with the item virtually anything you choose, because it belongs to you. In the same way, Jesus paid the purchase price for you and you therefore belong to Him – you are His possession. Therefore He has every right to command of you whatever He chooses.

          The second reason is that we are His special people. In both Titus 2:14 and 1Peter 2:9 we are called “His own special people.”2 Dear Christian friends, here it is so plainly spelled out, “You are special to God!” Just like God had put a hedge roundabout Job, so has He done with you and every other believer.

          Thirdly, we know that God loves you right now. He loves you just the way you are. Revelation 1:5 makes this very clear in these words, “To the One loving us and having washed us from our sins by His blood.”3 Indeed, how can we doubt God’s love for us? He who sent His very own Son to die in our place?

          Finally, God has been, and is even now working in you. For in God’s Word we read, “…it is God who works in you [plural] both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”4

          We see then, that God bought you and you are His property. We understand too that you are special to Him, that He loves you, and is at work in your life right now. So why not simply say, “Lord I thank you for your interest in me, and in this situation I give you thanks.” Every step you take from day to day you will find yourself in a new situation. So learn to simply thank Him that He is in control, and is directing all the affairs of your life. It is in the expression of “thank you” that we voice our faith in God.

1.1Corinthians 6:19-20 2.Titus 2:14 and 2Peter 2:9 3.Revelation 1:5 KJ3 4.Phiippians 2:13

The “Why” of It

          So just why should we give thanks in every situation? The reason is that we are told in the Holy Scriptures that “It is the will of God.”1 The most important place a believer can come to is where one submits to the sovereign will of God.

          Jesus Himself exemplified it in His earthly life. For example, if you look at His experience in the garden of Gethsemane when all the horror of Calvary’s cross was yet before Him, He said, “...nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”2

          Then too, look at Paul the apostle. He called himself a “bond-servant”3 or “slave” of God, and as such had no rights whatsoever. Now, Paul always sought to please His Master in every way. He even went so far as to say that he was the “prisoner of Christ Jesus,”4 though from our perspective he was sitting in a Roman prison. Yet he did not consider himself a prisoner of Rome, but of the Lord Jesus Christ. This was part of God’s plan for his life, and he therefore accepted it as such.

         

          Neither has God left us without hope during these trying times. For He has promised, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.”5 So we see too, that it is not a matter of if, but “when.” God has promised, “In the world you will have tribulation.”6 So don’t think that a strange thing is befalling you – all of God’s children face trials and tribulations in their lives.

          We must understand that God alone knows what is best for us at all times. Sometimes He does allow a trial to come into our lives. In fact, every child of God experiences some trials, and it always has a purpose.

 Perhaps the clearest purpose is recorded in these words of God, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”7 Another is given us in the book of Romans. Here it says, “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”8 Finally we have this promise, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation [testing]; because becoming approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord promised to the ones loving Him.”9 So we see that after we endure the trials in our lives, there is a reward awaiting us. Indeed, then, we can conclude with Paul the apostle’s words in saying, “For our affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory…”10

 

1.1Thessalonians 5:18 2.Matthew 26:39 .Philippians 1:1 4.Ephesians 3:1 5.Isaiah 43:2 6.John16:33 7.James 1:2-4 8.Romans 5:3-4

9.James 1:12 KJ3 10.2Corinthians 4:17

The “Where” of It

          We find, that the “where” of it is found in this phrase, “The will of God in Christ Jesus.”1

          Let us then draw your attention to some very precious and important truths about you as a believer.

          The first precious truth is that your salvation is “in Christ”, and in Him alone. “…for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”2

          The next precious truth is that your identity is “in Christ”, and in Him alone. It is by His name we are called Christians. It is because of Him that we are called believers, saints, and so on.

          The third precious truth is our security that we find in Him alone. It is He who upholds all things by the Word of His power. It is He who lives forever, making intercession on our behalf. As well, He has given us eternal life. For it is written, “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”3 We can count on Him, because He always speaks the truth. He is same yesterday, today, and forever.

          The final precious truth is that our complete satisfaction is found “in Christ”, and in Him alone. For we have tried the pleasures of sin and have found to be true what the Scriptures say they are only for “temporary,”4 they do not last. As well, we have tried the pleasures of the world and found them to be a disappointment. God made us in such a way that true satisfaction can only be found in Christ alone.

          Listen now to this account of a Samaritan woman who found true satisfaction in what Christ Jesus offered her. “Jesus answered and said to her, Everyone drinking of this water [well water] will thirst again; but whoever may drink of the water which I will give him will not thirst, not ever! But the water which I will give to him will become a fountain of water in him, springing up into everlasting life.” Talk about satisfying! No wonder the woman responded by saying, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst…”5

 

1.1Thessalonians 5:18 2.Acts 4:12 3.John10:28 4.Hebrews 11:25 KJ3 5.John4:13-15 KJ3

The “Who” of It

          To whom then do these words “to you” apply? I am certain that you would agree that they apply to every child of God. Also, we find that the “you” is in the plural and therefore makes this command inclusive of every child of God – including you!

          O Christian friend, have we not seen that we are commanded to be thankful? O then how it must grieve the very heart of God when we grumble and complain! Listen then to what God has said right after these words: “…it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” It says, “Do all things without complaining and disputing.”1 Why? Because, when we complain, we are essentially telling God that we do not agree with what He is doing in our lives!

          Just as Adam and Eve believed Satan’s lie in the garden and ate the forbidden fruit, so grumbling is believing Satan’s lie. For both say one thing – I don’t trust God, and I think I know better than Him!

          O, you who call yourselves Christians, how God-honoring it would be if you would stop complaining about what He is doing in your life, and would simply begin to thank Him! Then, and only then, would you experience the peace and “rest” in your life! Yes, you may have the “rest” of salvation, but this will bring you the “rest” in your daily life! Then you will have joy unspeakable!

          If we would only start our day with, “Thank You, Lord, for what You are going to do in my life today,” what a difference it would make! Not only this, but when you are faced with a situation, simply say, “Lord, in this situation I give You thanks.” Then you will find that you will have a love for people that you have never before experienced – even for difficult people! You will find your attitude towards people completely changed. When you have truly understood and accepted these things, then you will find your Christian life to be the exciting adventure that God intended it to be!

1. Philippians 2:14

Victor Reimer and Roy Byman

Vic’s Testimony

I would like to take the time to give my testimony here, especially for those of you who consider yourselves religious.

How I Came To Be a Believer

          Now it may be that you will go, “oh sigh,” when you start reading my testimony, “here goes another boring testimony” – but wait! Listen…

          I was born into a very religious home. By most standards, it would have been called a “Christian home.” Thus, being a “Christian home”, we would of course go to church, and I to Sunday School in my childhood years. The church we attended was a typical Evangelical Church.

          Then it happened. Someplace around the age of five the church got the Sunday School together for a film. In the end we were told something like, “If you want to go to Heaven, then you must invite Jesus into your heart.” Well, of course I wanted to go to Heaven! So, without telling a soul, I went home and did just that. From that day on I called myself a Christian.

          For the next five or so years, I don’t think I gave any thought to the things called “spiritual.” I just lived a kid’s life, having fun. However, it was keenly impressed upon me that I should read my Bible and pray as I got older. So night after night I would pray and read my Bible.

          Once I got to my teen years things really started to change. Some would have said, “You’re merely going through a typical teen’s rebellious time in your life.” However, I felt convicted for the lifestyle I was living in. No, I wasn’t caught up in gangs or anything like that, but I felt that I was a sinner just the same. I felt the separation between me and God. I knew something was wrong, I just didn’t know what.

          I began to live out some very frustrating years. It was the beginning of trying to live the Christian life. I knew the things I should, and should not, be doing. Yet I continued to be a failure, I felt, in the eyes of God. I could fool those around me for the most part, but I knew I couldn’t fool God.

          I was trying to live the Christian life by living in a self-imposed set of do’s and don’ts. I would read my Bible and pray every day. I would attend church regularly. I even went on a number of short-term mission trips overseas. Yet, despite all these things, I always had a fear of God’s judgment. I frequently felt guilty. I would go through a constant cycle of sinning and confession. I always felt uncertain about my salvation, and would repeatedly invite Jesus into my heart. Yet nothing changed.

          Finally things became clear to me. I was reading a book called, “The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus,” written by John R. Cross. In this book he explained the core message of the Bible from beginning to end. It was then that the puzzle pieces began to fall into their proper place. It was then that it suddenly dawned on me – I was not saved! It shook me to the core. It was then that I realized that if I had stayed on the course I had been walking – I would have ended up in Hell, thinking that I had been a true born-again Christian. What I now know, is that I had merely been religious. I had believed Satan’s lie – his counterfeit.

          I had believed the very same lie that Adam and Eve had believed in the garden. They, too, believed Satan’s lie, that they could eat of the “Tree of Knowing Right from Wrong,” and live forever under their own effort. So I found that religion tells you the do’s and the don’ts, but it gives you no strength to live by them – it leaves you empty, and without hope. In fact, it leaves you feeling like a complete failure, and that is exactly what Satan is after. For his hope is that you will then ditch God and anything else to do with Christianity. And if he can’t convince you of this, then to at least keep you duped that your religious ways will save you. Either way Satan wants to deceive you. In reality, Satan is the god of religion. That is what Satan wanted to be after all, wasn’t it? Yes, he aspired to be God, and to rule as God. That is still his plan today, and sadly he is deceiving billions of people with his lies. People, like I was, are fooled by his appearance as “an angel of light.” That’s right, Satan does not appear in his cartoon attire – that too is a cleverly disguised tactic of his. The reality is that he masquerades as an angel of light. More accurately we might say, that Satan’s attire is one with a suit, tie, and maybe a clerical collar – don’t be fooled! He is clever, imitating the truth as closely as possible, seeking to deceive as many as possible.

          Now, of course, not only did I come to see that I was still a helplessly lost sinner on the way to Hell, but I also came to see the one and only way to be saved.

          I came to see that there was absolutely nothing on my part that could save me. That is, there was no effort, or trying, on my part, that could save. I saw that religion was Satan’s great scam. The truth was that Jesus had already done everything. The only thing left on my side was to believe that to be true. This took my eyes off of myself, and caused me to look to Jesus. Jesus is my Savior. I am not my own savior. For how could one possibly save oneself? How could one possibly save oneself, who is up to their armpits in quicksand? No, we need outside help, but we do need to trust the one who has come to save us. Someone might say, “Well, how much faith does it take to be saved?” I say, “How much faith would it take to let someone rescue you from the quicksand?”

          God is very plain in His Word that we are all sinners. Everyone is lost, and on the way to Hell. You know very well that everyone sins, and you know, too, that you’re not an exception. God is also equally plain that “The wages of sin is death.” It is quite simple then – nothing but death would suffice as punishment for my sin. No amount of praying, confessing my sins, doing penance, doing good, inviting Christ into my heart, would suffice – no, someone must die. For “without shedding of blood is no remission [pardon] of sin.” So, either it would be I who must die (which would mean that after my physical death I would ultimately go to the Lake of Fire, and thus be eternally separated from God), or someone innocent would have to take my place.

          This is where the good news comes in. Jesus was my substitute – it was He who died in my place! Jesus took upon Himself all of my sin - past, and present, and future. Oh, what joy filled my life! Just to know that all my sins had been forgiven, because Jesus Christ had been punished for every one of them. In turn He gave me His righteousness. It was because of this transaction that I can now be innocent before Him. What rest! What joy! What peace! I knew I had been changed from a sinner to a saint. All because of what Jesus did for me.

          Understand then, that just as Jesus Christ was punished for all my sin, so He was punished for all your sin. All that is left is for you to believe this to be true. Do you believe Jesus Christ to be your Savior? Do you believe that He rose from among the dead like He said?

          I implore you; it is a miserable, miserable thing to try to live like a Christian when you’re not one. It is like a caterpillar trying to fly. It just can’t. It must go through metamorphosis, and then, being a butterfly, it can fly! Oh, look to Jesus and live! Stop thinking you know better than God! Jesus completed the work on Calvary’s cross for you. It was for you that He hung upon that cursed tree! Your every sin on Him was laid. He was punished because of your sins! Why did He do this? He did it because He loves you, and wants you to be free from the burden of sin. He yearns for you to accept His free offer of salvation.

*Please contact me if you’re interested in knowing more. I would be most glad to take you through “The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus” Bible study. It takes only about 11 hours to go through, and it will change your life.

How I Found Contentment

In My Christian Life

          One thing is certain about the Christian life, and that is that you will have trials and tribulations in this life. Perhaps you are a young believer. If so, let me warn you that this will be true in your life as well. It will happen. My life, I have to say, was no exception.

          I would grumble about this that and the other thing. Only during brief good times would the grumbling cease. I would complain about weather that I didn’t like. I would complain about people that rubbed me the wrong way, or that I thought were living differently than I would like them to. I would gripe about circumstances I didn’t like. I didn’t think this attitude was a big deal. I thought I had the right to complain about these things. After all wasn’t I owed better? Shouldn’t things be fair?

          What I didn’t realize however, is that I was complaining about God! This really began to change my thinking about the whole thing. I realized I was being just like the Israelites that wandered in the desert, the ones whom God had forbidden to enter the bountiful land. I realized that by wanting better circumstances in my life, I actually wanted the circumstances other people had. Then it dawned on me that the Bible calls these things coveting, envying and jealousy! I realized these things were, in reality, some pretty awful sins!

          At the same time too, Satan was distracting me with the things of the world. He was trying to lure me away from God’s will for my life by the things of the world. Not bad things per se, but by the things appearing “innocent.”

          Don’t be fooled, Satan will do absolutely anything to get you to forget about God. He’ll do anything to cause you to doubt that God cares about you. Anything to get you out of God’s will for your life. Satan would much rather that you have him as your god and follow his will for your life!

          Looking at Paul the apostle for a moment now we see that he was most decisively saved, and yet he says that he “learned to be content” in every situation. This is key. We must learn to be content no matter what we have or don’t have. I began to realize that I wasn’t content. I wanted something more than I had. I wanted my hard times to end. I wanted an easier life. I wanted what others had. In reality what I was saying is, “God you gypped me!”

          I learned too, that it is only under trial that one matures as a believer. I found that the miserable people and circumstances in my life acted like sandpaper on a carving. Yes, it is a rough experience, but it is only in this way that the imperfections are removed, and a beautiful creation is revealed. In this case the creator is none other than God Himself! So then we see that God uses people and circumstances that may not be pleasant to mold and shape us into mature Christians.

          At the same time I realized that God was testing me through these trials, to see whether I would trust Him or not. The simple truth is that God wanted to take me into the “bountiful land” of Canaan, but I doubted what He was doing in my life. God didn’t want me to live a life of misery. He desired to take me into the “bountiful land” – a land of rest and joy – a “fruitful land”. Now I’m not speaking as to salvation, I’m talking life from day to day! God wanted me to trust Him even in the midst of my hard times.

          Look at the people in the Bible. Did they trust God in the midst of trial? Think of Paul the apostle.  He prayed three times that the “thorn in the flesh” would be taken away, and God said, “My grace is sufficient for you.” What about Caleb and Joshua who were in the same circumstance as the rest of the Israelites? What about Daniel, who praised God while knowing the plot against him? What about Abraham, as he was called by God to give up his son whom the promise of God was through? What about Esther and Haman’s plot to kill the Jews? The list could be long, and the examples lengthy, but the point is, these people all trusted God as they went through various ordeals of life.

          Satan would have liked for me to be dissatisfied with what God had given me in this life, and to want more, to want better. Truly, Satan has not changed his tactics. For in the same way, he tempted Eve by causing her to doubt God’s love for her; to cause her to think that God was withholding something more when, in fact, God had blessed them bountifully! The truth was that they were already in the “bountiful land”! So, when I came to understand that God had my good in mind, that He loved me, that I was being ungrateful towards Him and that I wasn’t trusting Him, then I began to give Him thanks for all the circumstances in my life, whether difficult or not. Why? I now knew that He was using them to help me, not to hinder me. I knew too, that God was allowing every one of these situations in my life. For Satan cannot do one thing beyond what God allows.  That is clearly demonstrated in the story of Job.

          Now I can give thanks to God, despite the challenges that come my way. I can now accept my circumstances because I know that they are God’s will for my life and that they are for my good. I can rejoice, because His will is being worked out in my life. I most gladly serve Him as a slave. For what better Master could one desire, than He who sent His only begotten Son to die in our stead? How marvelous to have Him in control of my life!

          Yes, God desires that you trust Him too. He yearns for you to accept your circumstances. Will you trust Him with your daily life? Will you accept your circumstances as God’s will for you? I hope you do, because it is a life of rejoicing and rest. Come - come into the “bountiful land” God has prepared for you! It is a “fruitful land”!

Victor Reimer

email me at focusingonjesus@gmail.com