Service By Grace
“Wherefore we receiving a
kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God
acceptably with reverence and godly fear (Heb. 12:28):”
How marvelously wonderful that we
possess a sure and definite destination for any and all effort in the
Lord (I Cor. 15:58; Col. 3:23-24; I Pet. 1:3-4).
Please note how in the following verse the Apostle
Paul battles with determined aim, goal, manner, and knowledge:
“I therefore so run, not as
uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my
body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached
to others, I myself should be a castaway (I Cor. 9:26-27).”
Even so, the lead verse to this section
also speaks to the manner by which children of God
can acceptably serve Him.
Within
the text of the 12th chapter of Hebrews, we learn that all children
of God experience divine chastening (Heb. 12:8; Deut. 8:5), and that these
experiences can train us in kingdom citizenry (Heb. 12:10-11, Deut. 8:3; Jas.
1:4).
This is another key to Christian growth and development.
Bearing this in mind, we can be encouraged and not
allow the entrance of fainting or bitterness in our thinking that could lead to
any type of dishonoring attitude (Heb. 12:13-17; I Cor. 10:9).
Negative thought patterns which lean toward inner
statements of “I don’t deserve this,”
or “why is this happening?” can only
serve to frustrate and also hinder further development.
These types of statements are more in line with
man’s worldly ways - not from above (Prov. 16:25; Jas. 3:15).
But we are not to conform to this mode of thinking
(Rom. 12:2), but be transformed through renovation of our minds.
Because
the mindset of the flesh is certainly against God (I Cor. 10:13-14; Rom. 8:7),
and requires continued vigilance and attention (as Paul stated) to keep it in
subjection (Rom. 8:13-14; I Cor. 10:12).
With a transformed and wise mindset however, we are
in a position to have grace to serve God honorably and with strength of
character and integrity through the entire development process to achieve proper
stages of growth in Him through the Gospel (Rom. 1:16-17).
The Lord wants us to live fully for Him (Deut. 8:2;
Mk. 12:30) and He is faithfully preparing us for a wonderfully glorious
inheritance now and forever!
“Therefore
my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of
the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord (I
Cor. 15:58).”
Be ever encouraged and strong in Him (Eph. 6:10)!