Tag: servant

What Is Your Response?

Text:

Psalm 105:1-3 (ESV)

1  Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!

2  Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!

3  Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!

Observation:

I woke up this morning with the LORD on my mind. I begin to praise and thank Him for all of my blessings. I thanked Him for the freedom that I have that I received from His loving heart and hands.

The bible says:

John 8:34-36 (ESV)

34  Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.

35  The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.

36  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Who are you a slave of? Are you a slave to sin, or a slave of the Savior?

Romans 1:1 (HCSB)

1  Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and singled out for God’s good news—

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your most holy and righteous name. Father, I pray for America today, and I pray for the kingdom of God that Jesus is building. Father, may Your kingdom come, and may Your will be done on earth, and in Your people.

Father, thank You for the freedom we have in Christ. Father, I thank You that those who Jesus has set free, no power on earth or above the earth can take it away. Satan can’t steal the gift of freedom that the Savior has given Your children.

Father, this is my prayer for each one of Your children who can say, “I Am Redeemed”.

Ephesians 2:10 (HCSB)

10  For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.

Father, make us more holy and hopeful than we have ever been before. Make us holy like You are holy, and may our hope be in God alone. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV) 
11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

What Causes You To Weep?

 

Text:

Philippians 3:18-19 (KJV)

18  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

19  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Observation:

Today’s focal passage reveals the reality of living in a fallen world. The letter of Philippians is mostly about joy. However, even when you experience joy in your life, it is sometimes mixed with things that make you weep.

The things that caused the Apostle Paul to weep were people who put their self-serving interest above the interest of others.

I remind you that Paul was addressing this letter to people identifying themselves as Christ followers. However, they were demonstrating by their actions that they did not have the mind of Christ concerning being a servant.

What is the mind of Christ? Paul wrote to them earlier in the letter; this is what he wrote.

Philippians 2:5-8 (KJV)

5   Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Are you willing to link your life with believers of like mind in sacrifice and service on behalf of others? It’s the Christlike thing to do.

Prayer:

Father, help all of us to be more like Christ in the attitude we demonstrate in our daily walk. Father, keep us in step with Christ, as we walk in His steps. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV) 
11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

How Much Value Do You Place on Serving Others?

 

Text:

Philippians 2:17-24 (HCSB)

17  But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

18  In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.

19  Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I also may be encouraged when I hear news about you.

20  For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests;

21  all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

22  But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father.

23  Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.

24  I am convinced in the Lord that I myself will also come quickly.

Observation:

Today the phrase that is resonating with me is “poured out”. As I read the concluding verses of chapter two; our focal passage, and the remainder of this chapter I am encouraged by the example of the three men mentioned.

Notice what Paul says about himself in verse seventeen. What he said about himself he could also say about Timothy in verse twenty. Then he said this about Epaphroditus.

Philippians 2:25 (KJV)

25  Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellow soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.

Philippians 2:28-30 (HCSB)

28  For this reason, I am very eager to send him so that you may rejoice when you see him again and I may be less anxious.

29  Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with all joy and hold men like him in honor,

30  because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me.

These three men were willing to give themselves in the sacrificial service of others. What is your attitude about serving others? Are you willing to be a servant? It’s the Jesus way.

Philippians 2:3-4 (HCSB)

3  Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.

4  Everyone should look out not ?only? for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for pouring into our hearts Your love that enables us to be Your servant. Father, help us by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit to pour out our hearts in loving and sacrificial service to others for the glory of Your name. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV) 
11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

What Is Your Attitude About Others?

 

Text:

Philippians 2:5-8 (HCSB)

5  Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,

6  who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.

7  Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form,

8  He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.

Observation:

The Lord Jesus Christ is the model for believers and followers of Jesus. We need to make our attitude toward others more and more like the attitude of Jesus.

Do you have the heart of a servant? One of the big obstacles that will keep you from mirroring the attitude of Jesus in pride.

Are you willing to imitate Jesus as He willingly emptied Himself? Noticed what Jesus was willing to do. Take the time to read today’s passage slowly, and allow the Holy Spirit of God to work it into your heart.

Then, take the next step of working it out in service to others. That’s what Jesus did.

Philippians 2:8 (HCSB)

8  He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, give each of us the heart of a servant. Father, help us to be willing to do what Jesus did; to humble ourselves, and be obedient to Your purpose and plan for our lives. In the might name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

1 Peter 5:6 (HCSB)

6  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV) 
11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

How to Become Who God Made You to Be

 

Text:

Psalm 119:73-80 (ESV)
73 

Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
74 Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.
75 I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant.
77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.
78 Let the insolent be put to shame, because they have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
79 Let those who fear you turn to me, that they may know your testimonies.
80 May my heart be blameless in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame! 

Observation:

Is your greatest desire to be the best person you can be, and fulfill the divine purpose of your Maker?

The Psalmist expresses that desire in the selected portion that I am using for today’s text.

The Psalmist acknowledges that the Lord is his maker, and that the Bible has the guidelines for living a purposeful and fruitful life. 

Our Maker has made us, designed us, and gifted us to able to strengthen the lives of others. In verse eighty the Psalmist express his desire to live a blameless life, and in verse seventy-eight he expresses his desire to be humble. Our God resist the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

We can find in reading daily the Word of God the spiritual food that we need to be the person God made us to be. That kind of life will be a blessing to others; see verse seventy-nine, and our own lives will be blessed; see verse seventy-seven.

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I pray the prayer of the Psalmist that You would give Your people a burning desire to be the people that You made us to be; a people that will be a blessing to others, and who be blessed by You. 

Father, gives us understanding how to do in our daily living; the things that we do, and the things that we say; may they be consistent with the guide book for living; the Bible. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.