Daily Devotions
July 6th, 2021 by Pastor SolleyRom 1:7-9 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
KJV
Yesterday we saw Paul a servant, a slave, bondman to Jesus Christ. (Rom 1:1) Today we see Paul again as a servant. (Verse nine above.) But it is a different Greek word that is translated serve in verse nine, it is a word that means to serve for hire, pay, or reward. There is no contradiction here, we are to be bound to Jesus Christ for He bought and paid for us with His own life and blood, we are to be bound to Him. But service for Christ is not without reward. Jesus is no harsh taskmaster directing and ordering about slaves, He is a loving and kind master who provides for and rewards those who serve Him. Those rewards are found in blessings in this world. (James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.) As well as treasures laid up in heaven. (Matt 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.) We may think we give up much in order to serve Jesus but when the final tally is made we will find we received much, much more than we ever gave up.