Reflection (Genesis 35:1–3, 11–12)

Morning Verses

Genesis 35:1–3,11–12

• When God commissions us for a task, he wants us to purify ourselves and set ourselves apart for his service.
• The Lord reaffirms his promises to us to give us confidence to move forward in faith.

Evening Verses

Matthew 13:16–17; Psalm 10:4

• We are privileged to be recipients of divine revelation through the Scriptures, which reveal many things about God’s person and work.
• Those who choose to avoid God may succeed now but will end tragically.

Taken from Once a Day Morning & Evening

https://meetmyfriend.com/1170/

True Servanthood (Luke 12:25–30)

A profound mystery: God becomes a slave. This implies very specifically that God wants to be known through servanthood. Such is God’s own self-disclosure. Thus, when Jesus describes his return in glory at the end of the world, he says, “It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them” (Luke 12:37).

Jesus remains Lord by being a servant.

The beloved disciple presents a mind-bending image of God, blowing away all previous conceptions of who the Messiah is and what discipleship is all about. What a scandalous and unprecedented reversal of the world’s values! To prefer to be the servant rather than the lord of the household is the path of downward mobility in an upwardly mobile culture. To taunt the idols of prestige, honor and recognition, to refuse to take oneself seriously or to take seriously others who take themselves seriously, to dance to the tune of a different drummer and to freely embrace the servant lifestyle—these are the attitudes that bear the stamp of authentic discipleship.

Taken from NIV Ragamuffin Bible

https://meetmyfriend.com/1163/

Caring About How We Do What We Do (1 Corinthians 13:4–13)

Relationships form a key element in the discipline of service because actions—even charitable, selfless deeds—can never be a substitute for love. Paul attested that even if he sacrificed his body and yet didn’t love others, he would “gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:3). Since relationships develop along the way in life, we need to be mindful of how we do what we do.

Jesus understood this. When Mary anointed his feet with expensive perfume, Judas protested the seemingly wasteful use of the perfume, arguing that it could have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor. But Jesus knew Mary’s heart. He praised her for preparing him for burial in this beautiful way (see John 12:1–8). Mary’s act was performed out of love for her Lord. Merely giving the money from the perfume to the poor would have been a meaningless act if she had no true concern for them.

Too often we pass right by people in our effort to get things done. Often we are more concerned with producing visible results than with caring for people. But even the most “spiritual” activities are pointless without love.

Putting It into Practice

Rewrite 1 Corinthians 13 in your own words, using specific references to your own situation. For example, a teacher may write, “Though my students obtain all the knowledge I can communicate to their minds, unless I reach their hearts with love, it is of little value.” A parent may write, “Though my family has all the food they can eat, if I don’t give them love, they will starve.” Then, determine specific ways to express such love as you go about your work and life.

Taken from NIV Spiritual Renewal Study Bible

https://meetmyfriend.com/1152/

Born to Serve (Galatians 6:10)

When we think about God’s plan for our lives, we often end up wondering about a different question entirely: What about our own plans for our lives? We fantasize about who we’re supposed to marry, what job we’re supposed to take, where we’re supposed to live, or what other elements of life we should pursue for our happiness.

What we forget is that God’s plan for us is far greater than our own. God tells us throughout the Bible that we are born to serve him. This life of service means that we must love others and attend to their needs. God calls us to be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving toward each other (see Ephesians 4:32). Part of God’s plan for us is serving others in the way he’s outlined for us. Just as the good Samaritan helped the man in need in Jesus’ parable (see Luke 10:25–37), we too must follow Christ’s example and obediently help those who need us most.

Taken from NIV Essentials of the Christian Faith

https://meetmyfriend.com/1146/

How Is This Woman a Model for Today? (Proverbs 31:16–25)

This wife of noble character was productive and ingenious—so much so that she can be intimidating to women who seek to follow her example. But while everyone can benefit from her example of initiative and hard work, the main lesson she offers us relates to her outlook rather than her output.

All of this woman’s qualities and accomplishments grew out of her fear of the Lord (v. 30). Fearing God was her central virtue, and this attitude toward God is as crucial for today’s women as it was for women then. The fear of the Lord not only undergirds our growth in wisdom but also draws us to the grace of Jesus, the one who forgives our sin and equips us for righteous living.

This woman’s life was dedicated to service to others: her husband, her children, her servants (v. 15) and the poor and needy (v. 20). She served them with eagerness (v. 13), resourcefulness (v. 16), and strength (v. 17,25). She was neither hindered nor demeaned by serving others. Rather, she was fulfilled by it, because godly service is the source of true nobility.

Taken from NIV Quest Study Bible

https://meetmyfriend.com/1135/

God Exalts His Servants (Matthew 20:26–27)

The world has it all backwards. The world ascribes greatness to those who are excessively ambitious. The world applauds the proud who are willing to do almost anything to climb to the top of the heap. To the world’s way of thinking, such obsession for glory is the true measure of success.

Jesus has other ideas. He tells his followers that the way up is down. If we want to be great from heaven’s perspective, we must be willing to take the place of a lowly servant.

Today as you move out into a world that has embraced values that are diametrically opposed to the teachings of Jesus, remember that the arrogant and self-serving face eventual humiliation. Only the humble will be honored in the end, when the stakes are eternal.

God’s Promise to Me

• I honor those who serve.

My Prayer to God

Lord, give me the grace to choose the way of servanthood. I want to imitate you. Help me to put others’ needs and desires before my own. Your Word teaches that true reward awaits those who humble themselves in loving service. Keep me from the tendency to be busy, to be driven, to step on others and to exalt myself.

Taken from Once a Day Bible Promises

https://meetmyfriend.com/1126/

1 Chronicles 23:28–29

Who were these people, and how is it that they got recognized in the Bible? These individuals were the little people who attended to the daily worship operations of Israel. The fact that this and the next few chapters detail the responsibilities of such people is important for us today. This listing clearly indicates that God uses all kinds of people for his service. God not only honors the big names of this world, he also honors the millions who work quietly, day by day, doing what needs to be done to build his kingdom.

As you continue to seek God, try to discover which of your abilities can be used in his service. Are you a skilled carpenter? Perhaps you could work on a low-income housing project. Do you operate a business? Maybe you could help someone find the right job. Do you have a knack for taking care of children? Why not take some pressure off of that struggling single parent down the street? Whatever your talent, God wants to use it for his service.

Taken from NIV The Journey Bible

https://meetmyfriend.com/1120/

https://meetmyfriend.com/1105/