Free to Serve

1 Peter 2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 1Pe 2:17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

In our service for the Lord, we must also serve others. We can do this because, we who are reborn, can take our eyes off ourselves and bless others:

1. Honor all men. That is, ascribe the value of each individual. He/she is one for whom Jesus gave His life. And He would have done so if that person were the only one needing saved.

2. Love the brotherhood. That is, the fellowship of saints, those of the household of God. Put their needs above your own. Practice "agapao," a godly love toward them. Though they are undeserving, let your love toward them be unwavering.

3. Fear God. Respect, reverence and be in awe of Him Who created and sustains you.

4. Honor the king. Submit yourself to your superiors while magnifying their dignity.

Our liberty in Christ frees us from the shackles which restrain exemplary citizenship. Prior to our redemption we were unable to treat God and our fellowman properly because we were too caught up by bitterness, resentment and distrust. The beam in our own eye kept us from clearly seeing the needs of others.

But now, we have been delivered from self and are able to reach up and out and down and minister to others. Thank God for our deliverance from our inflated egos so that we can honor and love others.

You may have heard the story of two friends who met for dinner in a restaurant. Each requested filet of sole, and after a few minutes the waiter came back with their order. Two pieces of fish, a large and a small, were on the same platter. One of the men proceeded to serve his friend. Placing the small piece on a plate, he handed it across the table.

"Well, you certainly do have nerve!" exclaimed his friend.

"What's troubling you?" asked the other. "Look what you've done," he answered. "You've given me the little piece and kept the big one for yourself." "How would you have done it?" the man asked. His friend replied, "If I were serving, I would have given you the big piece." "Well," replied the man, "I've got it, haven't I?" At this, they both laughed.