Pursuing Downward Mobility Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: Pursuing Downward Mobility------------------------------------- Date: 10/5/2002 Keyword: "servanthood" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. For the first six days of October, our three-minute Bible studies will key on central issues related to life in Christ. The verses we'll look at may not explicitly relate to the subject of sexual temptation, but they will (hopefully) help all of us to stand firm as we "go back to the basics." Passage: 1 Peter 4:10* As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Questions 1. What word pictures come into your mind as you think about a servant? Is this image something to which you aspire?   2. How do you usually act toward servants you meet during the day (wait-staff at restaurants, building custodians, domestic help in homes)?   Practical help Jesus was the ultimate Servant. On the last night of His life, He (the Son of God!) laid aside His robes, wrapped a towel around His waist and washed the smelly, dirty feet of His twelve closest friends. If Jesus modeled such servanthood, surely we who follow Him are to be servants as well. The "rub" comes in this: We want the reputation of a servant, but chafe at being treated as a servant. We would do well to think of service as putting a resource we possess at the disposal of another person. For the Christian, that means using gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit to bless people while we glorify God. Are you using your gifts of time, talent, energy, and finances to bless people and glorify God? To put your resources to work on behalf of others might result in being ill-treated, taken for granted, taken advantage of. Come to think of it — that is exactly what happened to the Lord Jesus! God extends to you and me the invitation to follow Jesus into the arena of service. Gratifying the self's desires provides fleeting pleasure followed by long bouts with guilt. Giving of ourselves to bless those around us is a brief hardship followed by long bouts of joy. Our choice. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2002 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission." ---