(Special lessons for servants)
Praise be to the Savior, JESUS CHRIST, forever and ever.
Have you ever wondered how to truly evaluate whether you’re a servant of God and if Christ is walking alongside you?
Do you think that signs and miracles are the only proof that Christ is with you?
Let me clarify something: No! Signs and miracles are not the first indication that Christ is with you. The Bible tells us that John the Baptist performed no signs at all, yet he was greater than all the prophets who came before him.
In John 10:41 (New International Version), it says: “And many came to him, they said, ‘John did no miraculous sign, but everything John said about this man was true.’”
This scripture teaches us that the truth of God’s word is more significant than signs and wonders. John the Baptist’s life and ministry were marked by his faithful proclamation of the truth, not by miraculous signs.
So, performing miracles or signs isn’t the primary sign of Christ’s presence in your life. Faithfulness to good God’s word is paramount.
There are also people who will perform signs, yet Christ will not recognize them.
Jesus warns in Matthew 7:22-23 (NIV):
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons, and in your name perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'”
In these verses, Jesus makes it clear that performing signs and wonders, while powerful, does not guarantee that a person is truly walking with Him. The key is a relationship with Christ and living according to His will, not just performing religious activities.
So, what is the true proof that we are walking with Jesus in our service to God?
The answer is found in the following scriptures:
John 12:26 (NIV): “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant will also be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”
Here, Jesus emphasizes that service to God involves following Him. This means a life that imitates Christ’s example of humility, obedience to the Father, and love for others. It’s not just about doing tasks in His name, but about living as He lived.
Jesus is telling us that if we want to serve Him, we must follow Him. And wherever He is, His servant will be there too. In simple terms, “He is with those who follow Him.”
So, how do we follow Jesus?
Let’s look at what the Bible says in Luke
9:23-24 (NIV):
“Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.'”
This passage presents three key elements of following Jesus:
Denying oneself: This means surrendering our personal desires and priorities to God’s will. Jesus calls us to die to self-centeredness and to prioritize God’s kingdom over our own comfort and ambitions.
Taking up our cross daily: This refers to accepting the challenges and sacrifices that come with following Christ. The cross symbolizes suffering, rejection, and the cost of discipleship. It means we are willing to endure hardship for His sake, just as Jesus endured the cross for us.
Following Jesus: This involves imitating His life of obedience, love, and service. It is a call to actively live out His teachings and lead a life of holiness.
To be true servants of God, we must deny ourselves daily and take up our cross. This means that for Jesus to be with us, we must make a daily commitment to surrender our own desires and comfort for His sake.
Have we truly denied ourselves? Or are we still holding on to our selfish desires and worldly habits?
You cannot serve God if you’re unwilling to give up your traditions, the love of the world, or your sinful behaviors. You can’t serve God while still holding onto things that go against His teachings, like living in sin or mocking others.
In James 4:4 (NIV), James warns: “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”
It’s important to understand that even if you experience signs or miracles in your life, Christ is not with you if you’re living in sin or disobedience. This is in line with the words of Jesus Himself.
The principle of walking with Christ remains the same forever—and it is to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him
. As Hebrews 13:8 (NIV) says:
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
This is not for His benefit—it is for ours. As it says in Job 35:7 (NIV),
“If you are righteous, what do you give to him, or what does he receive from your hand?”
Our obedience to God is for our own benefit, not His, because in denying ourselves, we align ourselves with God’s eternal purposes and experience the true joy and peace that comes from being in relationship with Him.
You may have already accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, which is great! But it’s still not enough. You must also deny yourself. And once you do that, prepare for the trials that will come because of your faith.
Prepare to be mocked, looked down upon, misunderstood, and even considered foolish. But don’t be afraid these are the same things that Jesus experienced. In
Galatians 6:17 (NIV), Paul talks about bearing the marks of Jesus in our lives: “From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.”
Jesus Himself said in
John 16:33 (NIV): “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
May the Lord bless you.
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