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.
45 For verily the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
28 even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
26 Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister; 27 and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant:
14 If I then, the Lord and the Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
35 And he sat down, and called the twelve; and he saith unto them, If any man would be first, he shall be last of all, and minister 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.
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
5 Only take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, 13 to keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?
4 Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
11 in diligence not slothful; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the 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.
13 For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another.
16 as free, and not using your freedom for a cloke of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.
26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will the Father honour.
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
13 neither present your members unto sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Fidelidade e recompensa
O servo fiel e sábio será recompensado pelo Senhor. A fidelidade no serviço honra a Deus e produz frutos eternos.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
58 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not vain in the Lord.
16 Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: 17 that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.
23 A man’s goings are established of the LORD; and he delighteth in his way.
22 The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be condemned.