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 even the Son of Man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.'
28 even as the Son of Man did not come to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.'
26 but not so shall it be among you, but whoever may will among you to become great, let him be your ministrant;27 and whoever may will among you to be first, let him be your servant;
14 if then I did wash your feet -- the Lord and the Teacher -- you also ought to wash one another's feet.
35 and having sat down he called the twelve, and he said to them, 'If any does will to 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.
11 in the diligence not slothful; in the spirit fervent; the Lord serving;
14 how much more shall the blood of the Christ (who through the age-during Spirit did offer himself unblemished to God) purify 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 you -- to freedom you were called, brethren, only not the freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through the love serve you one another,
16 as free, and not having the freedom as the cloak of the evil, but as servants of God;
26 if any one may minister to me, let him follow me, and where I am, there also my ministrant shall be; and if any one may minister to me -- honour him will the Father.
24 'None is able to serve two lords, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to the one, and despise the other; you are not able to serve God and Mammon.
13 neither present you your members instruments of unrighteousness to the sin, but present yourselves to God as living out of the dead, and your members instruments of righteousness 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.
21 'And his lord said to him, Well done, servant, good and faithful, over a few things you wast faithful, over many things I will set you; enter into the joy of your lord.
58 so that, my brethren beloved, become you stedfast, unmovable, abounding in the work of the Lord at all times, knowing that your labour is not vain in the Lord.
16 every Writing is God-breathed, and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for setting aright correction, for instruction that is in righteousness,17 that the man person of God may be fitted equipped -- for every good work having been completed.