Servir
Servir é o coração do evangelho. Jesus não veio para ser servido, mas para servir. O cristão é chamado a seguir esse exemplo, colocando-se a serviço de Deus e do próximo.
O exemplo de Jesus
Cristo é o modelo supremo de serviço. Ele lavou os pés dos discípulos e deu a própria vida como resgate por muitos.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many [paying the price to set them free from the penalty of sin]."
It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your [willing and humble] slave;
So if I, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet as well.
Sitting down [to teach], He called the twelve [disciples] and said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all [in importance] and a servant of all."
Servindo ao Senhor
Servir a Deus é um privilégio e uma ordenança. Devemos amá-lo de todo coração e servi-lo com alegria e fidelidade.
If it is unacceptable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Only be very careful and diligently observe the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord has commanded you to love the Lord your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul [your very life]."
"And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear [and worship] the Lord your God [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect], to walk [that is, to live each and every day] in all His ways and to love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul [your choices, your thoughts, your whole being], and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?
You shall walk after the Lord your God and you shall fear [and worship] Him [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect], and you shall keep His commandments and you shall listen to His voice, and you shall serve Him, and cling to Him.
never lagging behind in diligence; aglow in the Spirit, enthusiastically serving the Lord;
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal [Holy] Spirit willingly offered Himself unblemished [that is, without moral or spiritual imperfection as a sacrifice] to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the ever living God?
Servir ao próximo
A liberdade cristã nos chama a servir uns aos outros pelo amor. Cada dom recebido é para edificação do corpo de Cristo.
For you, my brothers, were called to freedom; only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the sinful nature (worldliness, selfishness), but through love serve and seek the best for one another.
Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover or pretext for evil, but [use it and live] as bond-servants of God.
If anyone serves Me, he must [continue to faithfully] follow Me [without hesitation, holding steadfastly to Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]; and wherever I am [in heaven’s glory], there will My servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].
Do not go on offering members of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness. But offer yourselves to God [in a decisive act] as those alive [raised] from the dead [to a new life], and your members [all of your abilities—sanctified, set apart] as instruments of righteousness [yielded] to God.
Fidelidade e recompensa
O servo fiel e sábio será recompensado pelo Senhor. A fidelidade no serviço honra a Deus e produz frutos eternos.
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.’
Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord [always doing your best and doing more than is needed], being continually aware that your labor [even to the point of exhaustion] in the Lord is not futile nor wasted [it is never without purpose].
All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the Lord,
And He delights in his way [and blesses his path].
The Lord redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.