Not to be served but to serve

In Philippians 1:1 , Paul introduces both he himself as well as Timothy as servants of Christ Jesus and addresses the Philippi Church as saints.

This year, I was blessed to have gotten the chance to attend this year’s National School Christian Fellowship Leadership Camp organized by Scripture Union, where I learnt what the word saint actually meant. Saints, as Paul addressed the Philippi Church, means holy people who were set part for God’s purposes. As for servants, we are called to be servants of God, that is slaves to righteousness and not sin.

Through the said camp, I am reminded once again about how we, children of God, are actually saints and servants of Christ. In other words, our whole lives are set apart for service to God for His glory and not our own. Not forgetting the fact that we are only enabled to serve because He has placed that righteousness on us and not because of anything we’ve done or will/can ever do.

This leads us to another point, how then do we serve a God who needs nothing of us? We are to serve His people (one another).

Philippians 2:3-4 says: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”.

Then again, how often do we think about God and what He wants of us in the first place. We’re often so busy with our earthly lives that we forget what being a Christian actually is all about.

We are called to live Gospel driven lives!!

Philippians 1:12-26
Despite the rivalries and the hardships Paul faced, (being in prison and persecuted) his passion to share the Gospel never died.

Philippians 1: 12-18 This great example reminds us to not allow the difficulties nor comforts in our lives hinder us from being passionate for Christ.

Being called to live Gospel-driven lives brings forth the point that we, the Church, the body of Christ, are Gospel-partners! Therefore, it is our responsibility to work in unity and in love toward the same goal and purpose. Being accountable to one another is necessary too.

I would like to end by sharing the lyrics to the chorus of the song “Servant King”:

This is our God, the Servant King
He calls us now to follow him
To bring our lives as daily offering
Of worship to the Servant King

God bless!!!

- Allyna Goh

Images taken from:
http://blog.beba-anas.com/borak-kosong/busy-sangat-ke
http://edharewood.hubpages.com/hub/Background-on-Episitle-to-the-Philippians
http://new-wood.blogspot.com/2011/11/servant-king.html