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DO YOU SERVE WITHOUT CONDITIONS?
LORD’S DAY, APRIL 26 MORNING
Matthew 19:27-20:7

Memory verse: Matthew 19:27

 

“Behold, we have forsaken all,
and followed thee;

what shall we have therefore?”

 

DO YOU SERVE WITHOUT CONDITIONS?
 
The life of sacrifice is a life of not seeking material things. The motive behind every deed and business is not to make money. There is no desire to be rich. Self-advancement in society is vanity. Growing the business to global status is foolhardy. However, serving for nothing earthly is unthinkable in many hearts, even Christian hearts. Peter asked on behalf of the disciples who had forsaken all to follow Christ, “…what shall we have therefore?” (Matt 19:27). Jesus’ reply focused on the future and the present.
 
In the future, “when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory” (Matt 19:28), so will all the disciples of Christ. They will judge the people of the world who are unbelievers including Israel represented in Matthew 19:28 as the “twelve tribes of Israel”. The twelve tribes represent all the unbelieving in Israel. Fellow believers will not judge those who believe in Christ. The twelve Apostles exclude Judas Iscariot, who was replaced by Matthias in Acts 1. These twelve Apostles represent all believers because all believers believe in the Old and New Testament as God’s Word, including all the Old Testament saints.
 
In the present, many believers who have forsaken houses, brethren, sisters, fathers, mothers, wives, children or land for Christ’s sake will have received an hundredfold and eternal life. The largest family every believer has on earth is the church family. Testimonies abound on how believers have rallied around fellow believers in need. Food, clothing and a roof over their heads have been provided for them when loved ones were killed or incarcerated for their faith.
 
Serving God is not measured by who started serving first; many who started serving first came in last. Many started last but came in first. It is not about how long a person is a Christian but whether he is a genuine Christian. The Jews were first to receive God’s grace and truth, but they rejected Christ. The Gentiles are the last, but they will become the first if they accept Christ as Lord and Saviour.
 
THOUGHT: Is there any other way of serving the Lord than to surrender all?
PRAYER: O Father, God Most High, help my heart be sincere and serve Thee sacrificially and unconditionally till Christ returns. Amen.

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