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| The Christian Duty... Serving God |
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| Why do I have to serve God anyway. It's not like I'm going to be a pastor or something, so why? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| So are there any rewards for serving God? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith... Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" -1 John 5:5 |
"Suppose one of you (a master) had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? so you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.' -Luke 17:7-10 |
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| So can this all be summed up into one commandment? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgements which the LORD your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them...that you may fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength." -Deut 6:1-2,4-5 |
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| "The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." -1 John 2:17 |
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| How goes God treat those who obey His perfect will? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." -John 14:21 |
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| So honestly, if my duty is to God, then what about to my country or the government? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgement on themselves... Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear (respect) to whom fear, honor to whom honor." -Romans 13:1-2,17 |
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| However... Christians must place God as their first priority. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: 'We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgivenes of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him." -Acts 5:29-32 |
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| So how do i bear withness to God? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpants and harmless as doves... You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you." -Matthew 10:16,18-20 |
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| Sometimes it is akwatd and I can't seem to find the right time to say it. How can I overcome this fear? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body." -Matthew 10:27-28 |
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| But can't I just have a little fun on earth. God will understand if I have a little fun won't he? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wait, I'm not sure if I'm willing to take the risk of embarassmnent. I'll tell them in private when the time is right? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven... And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it." -Matthew 10:32-33,38-39) |
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| "Are not two sparrows sold for one copper coin.? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." -Matthew 10:29-31 |
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