Romans 14: 1Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Consider your standing and status. We are called as servants and have a responsibility. We serve God and some think that’s how you get to heaven. I’ve had sinners tell me that they are serving God. You cannot serve the Lord until you’re saved. There is no substitute for salvation. We can be a respectable citizen and do good things every day, but without salvation we won’t go to heaven. The Lord saved our soul and until that took place we could not have a right standing before the Lord. We opened the door of our heart and Jesus saved us. We must stay humble before our Lord. The devil tries to get us to doubt. We have the name of God on us and are children through the Son, privileged members of the family of God and one another. We’re in the church of Jesus Christ.
Being servants we are called to the vineyard. Whether we go out into our community or through our jobs, we are to serve the Lord acceptably. God is owner of the vineyard and we’re workers—servants—in that vineyard. We serve by reaching out. There are many roles. We have a responsibility to our brothers and sisters in the Lord and to our natural family to win them to God. Success comes through being what Jesus called us to be—servants. We are to be on the outside what we have been made on the inside. There is one Savior, one baptism and one Master. We can serve together as a collective group, but we serve individually.
Sometimes we get like Elijah did. Because of a threat of Jezebel he hid in a cave saying he was the only servant of God who was still around. He wasn’t and we’re not the only ones saved. I have too many duties before my Master to worry about your duties. We are individual servants of God and it’s important that each of us do our part. Jesus is my very own Master and he’s your very own Master. What we do together is good but individually in our own life, in our own days we must do what he would have us do. It’s not about a list of chores. It’s not just standing for him. We stand before him. When we get weak or tired in the way, turn to the Master. He’s able to hold us up. As a kid working in the fields of my uncle we’d get hot and tired. It seemed he always came around at the right time with water to drink. God won’t ask us to do what we can’t do. I can’t go with you every day and you can’t go with me. However, the Master has his eye on us. He’ll help us serve him against all odds. He does it because he’s our very own Master.
Every moment we are before him. No matter what kind of day we’re having he’s there and able to hold us up. It’s easy to look at others and say they should be doing this or that. If we keep our eyes on our own responsibilities we can labor together. The gift of our salvation is worth our service. We’re not alone. Our Master is with us. He’s not against us. He’s not standing back waiting to pounce on us. When we’re weak he’ll lift us up. Give him all glory.
It’s wonderful to say he’s our Master and Lord, but I’m thankful he’s my very own Master. He’ll be with us always even to the end of the world. Don’t face your days with doubt and uncertainty. Do the will of God and keep your eyes on your own Master. We’ll make it through each day till we meet him. Live so that he’ll say “well done.”
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 