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Show FOLLOW TO THE VALLEY OF SERVICE "He said unto them, Follow will make you fishers 4: 19) me, and I of men." (Matthew gathering disciples to carry on the work He had come to begin. He wanted first of all qualified servants, Jesus was those who met Him and had understanding an glory of His deity, of the those who knew what it meant to have the flesh, dwelling among them in those who believed and trusted the Son of God Him for their all in all. He wanted those long term commitment to service among the peoples of the world. So as He went along, He invited men to drop what they were doing to willing to make a 1 follow Him. curiosity but It took more everything, away from Many some than came along with determination. notion to a to leave I to tum to leave friends family, am give up livelihoods, behind in order to follow this preacher. out of young reminded how God told new Abram in the Old Testament that it time for him to and he moved not going, depending God to show him. (Genesis 12) There are two places those who would knowing where on move was He was follow Jesus must prepare to go. One can expect to spend some time on the mountain top. There God will meet you, inspire you, fill you with His word, and get you ready for Kingdom service. Then, one must also look forward to going down to the valley and rendering 2 service. That's where the real work is people hurt with needs. The battle is there to be fought. The dry and the bones are there to be revived. Peter and the other two disciples were having heavenly time with Jesus, Moses, Elias up on a and the mountain of transfiguration and wanted to stay there in pandemonium. But God said, No, there is work to do down in the valley. (Luke 9) Jesus had started preaching "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." One day He saw two brothers as He was going for a walk down by the sea of Galilee. It Andrew. was Peter and his brother They were their nets into the and said, fishermen sea. Jesus casting spoke them Follow me, and I will make 3 This was not a call of honor and glory but to engagement. you fishers to This was men. not plastered on a " call to have their names the billboards of this world disrespected and dishonored. Jesus was saying in plain terms that any fishermen would know, "Follow me to the valley of service." As we come to the end of 20 12, He is still issuing that same but to be invitation to you and to me, "Follow into the valley of service!" First, Jesus came to serve. me His mission of dwelling among men was a ministering mission, a service mission, a meet the needs of others mission. He gave up His seat in and saving served so glory to wretched like come seeking. me. He that at the end of the day, a He needed to go up into the mountains for 4 place to place, were needs, regardless rest. He went from wherever there who, serving. Second, Jesus wants When He finished told his disciples us teaching to of serve. that day, he to feed the five food, to sit the crowd down in 50 and hundreds, thousand. He had them to find to pass out the fish and the loaves. He said His final judgment will consider did with the lost, the least, and the last. Did we visit the sick and the what we prison bound? Did we take care of the widows and the orphans? Did we render service? Third, Jesus set the example for doing good. He sight to the blind, service. He went about healed the sick, gave spoke peace to the worried, made the 5 lamb to walk, bid the dumb to talk, unstopped deft ears, raised the dead. He showed us living stones, how to be anchoring the foundation of the world said, "For I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I with kindness. Jesus say unto you, The servant is not greater than his master; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. (John 13: 15-16) In I Peter 2: 21 we read, " " ... an Christ also suffered for us, leaving example, that ye should follow his us steps." Fourth, we are made new to serve. God changed our hardhearted, selfishness and gave us hearts of flesh and generosity. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ 6 Jesus good works, unto ordained that we which God hath should walk in them." place, He bid us to "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things (Ephesians that are 2: 1 0) In God's." We one are to love one another and to express our love to one another. Weare to live as servants of the most High God and one day we expect GOD, can to hear Him say, "SERVANT OF WELL DONE." 7 |
