Live Well
Blameless, Blog, Christian Service, Devout, Erik Garthe, Just, Live Well, No Longer Conformed, Redeemed, Unselfish Labor, Unselfish Love
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As a Christian, your past does not matter, because it has been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. What is important is to live well and die well for Him. In the twelve verses of 1 Thessalonians 2 are the secret of success as His servant.
What are these expressions of Christian service? First, Christian service is expressed in unselfish love. (vv. 1-4) We want our needs met first; we want our pain stopped now; and we want our desires fulfilled immediately. The result is we deny God His place at the center of our life. Unselfish Christian love is a love of the truth of God’s Word—many Christians today do not have this love and they find it hard to witness to the lost. Unselfish Christian love is also a love of the task. The apostle Paul loved seeing lives changed by Jesus Christ. Second, Christian service is expressed in unselfish labor. (vv. 5-9) In order to practice unselfish labor, your life must be free of “flattering words”—insincere words to get something); “covetousness”—a desire for money; and self-glory—seeking honor from men. What was the secret of Paul’s effectiveness? He served with unreserved abandon—continual and selfless giving of himself to people whom he loved. He wanted to change his world. Do you want to change your world? Third, Christian service is expressed in unspotted living. (vv. 10-12) A Christian should live so that his life will withstand a close inspection according to the standard of Christ. Paul’s life is described in verse 10 by three simple words: “devoutly … justly … blamelessly.” Devoutly is a person’s conduct toward God. Justly is conduct toward others. And blamelessly is his or her conduct in private. Paul could lay his head on his pillow at night without guilt in his relations with God, others, and himself. The church of Jesus Christ today needs more Christian workers who will give themselves unselfishly to the Lord’s work. What about you?
Sin cera, Erik
Erik O. Garthe is Associate Pastor at Canton Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.
