Serving Produces Boldness

How are you serving?  Are you serving out of duty or relegation?  Or are you serving well?

Deacons are listed as the second office of the church in 1 Timothy 3.  An interesting parallel set of qualifications are presented to Timothy for who should serve as Deacons.  They need self control, they must ably care for family, and they must fully immerse themselves in the full revelation of the faith.  And these were the servants in the church!

In other words, a deacon is more than just a doer.  They have something to them deeper than just maintenance or ability in some kind of trade.  I find this interesting.  Herein we may mistake people who can work hard for deacons when other qualifications are not yet met.

God is clear about those who oversee and serve the church.  The people must meet certain necessary qualifications.

This is how one serves well.

1 Timothy 3:13 (ESV) For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

There is reward for serving God in heaven, that is for sure.  Jesus talked about that constantly.  But do we realize there are many places where the Bible speaks of reward on Earth?  Here, Deacons are rewarded for serving well with good standing in the community AND great confidence in the faith!  What great rewards.  

One commentator notes the word for confidence is also the word that is often translated “boldness.”

Many Christians want to grow in their boldness and faith.  I'm amazed at the number of Christians who think its going to magically happen.  Or that going to church alone will create more confidence.  While hearing the Word produces faith, serving the Church brings "great confidence in the faith."

Think of the first Church Martyr!  He was Stephen the Deacon!  He served well and when questioned about the faith, he stood up in boldness and preached a message of full disclosure in the scriptures that Jesus is the Christ!  WOW!  What a sweet reward for serving in the Church.  And in death, Stephen boldly embraced his martyrdom without any example before him to follow other than the Lord Jesus Christ!  

Serving well leads to a well-lived life of Faith.  

Has God called you to serve?  SERVE HIS CHURCH WELL!

PRAYER:
Father, thank you for the blessings you pronounce on Your servants.  Help us to realize that serving is the heart of Jesus.  He bent down and washed the disciple's feet setting for us an example.  How wonderful that we serve you Lord Jesus who asks us simply to follow in Your footsteps of service.  Help me serve as you served!  AMEN.

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