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Jan 14

17

An Approved Servant of the Lord–One Who Follows the Old Paths (Part 3)

Posted by Larry Miles on January 17, 2014
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The Christian who seeks to be “An Approved Servant of the Lord” is one who follows the “old paths.” He or she will desire to be more like Jesus day by day. He will look to the Lord Jesus for his example in life. He will love the Word of God and seek to live according to its principles. Not only will she desire to grow in grace, she will want to help others do the same.

Christians will live a life of joy and peace. To experience these 2 characteristics in the fullest sense, one must be a child of God. The Apostle Paul, writing to the Galatians includes joy and peace in his list of the “fruit of the Spirit” in Gal. 5:22. This is a list of attributes that the Christian must cultivate in his or her lives. He further says in Gal. 5:25, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Christianity is a life of action. It is a life where we cultivate spiritual virtues.

 Paul tells the Philippians that they, and us must be a people of joy and peace. In Phil. 4:4 we read, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say rejoice.” We must remember the circumstances of Paul’s writing. Philippians is one of the “Prison Epistles.” Paul wrote these epistles while in prison for his faith.

The word “peace” has many different connotations to different people. Although all of us should desire physical peace in our world, we must accept the fact that there will not be true peace until the Prince of Peace returns. Many times in the Word of God, the writers are talking about spiritual peace in the lives of the believers. This is what Paul is dealing with in Phil.4:4-7.

Paul tells the one who would desire to be “An Approved Servant of the Lord” that if he or she are to grow spiritually they must have joy and peace in their lives. He further tells them in Phil. 4:8-9 that they must build upon their faith and seek the ways of God they will be blessed. He uses such words as, noble, pure, lovely, good, and virtue to give us an idea of how God wants us to live. He then says in Phil. 4:9, “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do, and the God of peace will be with you.”

In closing, we are to live out our faith, knowing that others are watching us. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount that “we must let our light shine…” We seek to serve God and work for Him, not for gaining “spiritual brownie points,” but that our Heavenly Father will be glorified. If one wants to follow the “old paths” this is one way we can do so.

-Larry Miles, January 17, 2014

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Jan 14

16

An Approved Servant of the Lord One Who Follows the Old Paths (Part 2)

Posted by Larry Miles on January 16, 2014
Posted in Articles by Larry Miles  | No Comments yet, please leave one

Christians have a beautiful relationship with our Savior! We have a different mindset (Rom. 12:1-2). We have exchanged the values of the “world” with the teachings of the Lord Jesus. We have the Word of God to believe, read, meditate and reflect upon. We have His promise that He will bless us. We have countless blessings and privileges. But, we must never neglect our responsibili­ties. We have been called out of a domain of darkness into the marvelous light of Christ’s kingdom, the Church. (Col.1:12-14) Our values now must centered in “the things that are above, not the things below.” (Col. 3:1-3)

The Old Paths Lead to Holy Living. ( 1 Peter 1:13-16) If our aim is to be “An Approved Servant of The Lord,” we will continue in the “old paths.” Christians must strive and seek to live holy lives. We realize that we can never be holy except through our relationship to Jesus.

 Peter gives us some instruction in 1 Pet.1:13-16 (ESV) on how we can live a holy life, one that is pleasing to God. First of all he says that we must  ”prepare our minds for action.” The Christian must make up his or her mind that they are going to put Jesus first in their lives. We must practice mind renewal in a mindless society. Every aspect of our being must be centered on the Person of the Lord Jesus. He must be preeminent in our lives. He must be number 1!

Peter further instructs us that we mus be “sober-minded”This means that we must be serious about our relationship to Jesus. He then tells us that we must “set out hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” We must always give our best to Jesus. Having the hope that is a reality that Jesus is coming back again as he promised in His Word should motivate us to greater service.

In 1 Pet. 1:14, Peter reminds us that we are to be”obedient children.” This reminds us of Jesus’ words in John 14:15, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” We are further reminded that if we want to be “An Approved Servant of the Lord,” we will seek to conform our lives to the “image of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

As we said earlier, no person can be holy in and of themselves. Peter reminds us that we are holy and must live holy lives because our God is holy. He has promised to equip us for every good work. He has promised to provide all that we need to live the Christian life. He has promised that if we will seek the “old paths,” that He will bestow upon us “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” (Eph. 1:3) Can we ask for a more loving and precious and giving Heavenly Father?

-Larry Miles, January 16, 2014

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Jan 14

15

An Approved Servant of the Lord–One Who Follows The Old Paths Part 1)

Posted by Larry Miles on January 15, 2014
Posted in An Approved Servant of The Lord  | Tagged With: , , , | No Comments yet, please leave one

In our previous article we wrote about what it means to to seek after the “old paths.” We stressed the importance of standing firm in the Lord Jesus Christ and upon His holy Word. In this and perhaps some more articles,I want to elaborate on how one who seeks the “old paths” will implement them in his or her life and service to the Lord of Glory. All of us will want these in our lives and will want to tell others also. Paul, writing in 2 Tim. 2:2, wrote the following, “and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

A Christian who is seeking and following the “Old Paths” will stress the Lordship of the Jesus in their lives. We will give Jesus the preeminence that He has and so richly deserves. It is through the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus that we have forgiveness of sins. (Col. 1:12-14) Paul emphasized the preeminence of Christ in Col. 1:15-20. We must do the same in our lives and in our contacts with others.

The Lord Jesus is the only way to salvation. He said this in John 14:6, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through Me” and Peter reiterates this precious truth in Acts 4:12, “There is no other Name under heaven by which we may be saved.”

One who follows the “Old Paths” will be one who is a faithful member of the Lord’s Church. He will be one who enjoys the privileges of being “in Christ” and also one who is willing to accept the responsibilities of being a member of the Church. He will be one who believes an accepts the fact that the Lord Jesus founded but one church. Jesus, Himself, said “I will build My church….” (Matt. 16:13-18).

Christians are willing bond-servants for Jesus. He is the head of the Church mentioned in the Bible. He has a right to expect that we are willing subjects. If we are, then we will show it by obeying Him in all things. Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love Me, Keep my commandments.” The Christian who is seeking the “old paths” and putting that belief into practice by following the “old paths” will be one who obeys Him.

Christianity is a life of action. It is a life of dedication. It is a life of steadfastness By following “tried and true” principles, we will “grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18) There is room in the Kingdom for every Christian. We all have at least one talent for the Lord. He has promised to equip us for service and if we are willing to learn and grow, He will equip us.

The one who wants to be “An Approved Servant of the Lord” will be the one who desires to be closer to Him and learn more of Him in able that we might grow nearer to Him and help others do the same. As the hymn writer wrote, “More about Jesus would I Know…”

-Larry Miles, January 15, 2014

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