Category: Servitude

Opportunity in Adversity

Post author By Stephen Trammell
Post date April 3, 2021
171 Comments on Opportunity in Adversity

“And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, ‘Truly this man was the Son of God!’” Mark 15:39 (ESV) What was it about the final hours of Jesus’ life that made an eternal impact on the centurion who approved of the crucifixion of Jesus? What were the features of Jesus’ death that convinced the centurion that Jesus was the Son of God? I wonder how many crucifixions this centurion had witnessed before he even knew Jesus existed. Perhaps the centurion had personally witnessed hundreds of these executions. There was something about the way Jesus died that changed everything for this centurion. Maybe the centurion overheard the conversation between Jesus and the thief on the cross who said to Jesus, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (Luke 23:42 ESV). Jesus responded to the thief, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43 ESV). Perhaps the centurion saw the grace of God in action as Jesus put the needs of someone else before His own. The centurion could have been standing close enough to overhear Jesus say to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” and to the disciple whom Jesus loved, “Behold, your mother!” (John 19:26-27 ESV). Maybe the centurion detected the deep love that Jesus had for His mother and the compassion Jesus extended from the cross. In the midst of extreme adversity, Jesus made sure His mother’s needs would be met. Of all the crucifixions the centurion assisted in, perhaps he had never seen such love. Adversity creates unique opportunities to show the love of Jesus as you serve others. Jesus exemplified servitude in the midst of extreme adversity. Are you watching for opportunities to serve others while you navigate the terrain of adversity? Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Tags Devo

Adversity Crucifixion Servitude

Opportunity in Adversity

Jesus Servitude Surrender

Aligning Your Life for Service

Post author By Stephen Trammell
Post date April 8, 2014
61 Comments on Aligning Your Life for Service

“‘Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.’” John 12:25-26 (ESV) Why did you wake up this morning? What are you giving your life to today? Who are you living for? God is working all things together for His glory and for your good. Today matters! God desires to conform you into the image of Christ. Christlikeness does not come without your willingness to fully surrender your life to the Holy Spirit’s control. As you choose to lose your life, the life of Christ becomes more evident in you. Consider embracing the attitude of servitude. Allow Jesus to live His life in you and through you. There’s room only for one to take the reins to your life. Will you give Jesus His rightful place in your life? You cannot live the life God has for you apart from Christ in you. Even on your best day, you will come up short of God’s perfection. “ I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Gal. 2:20 (ESV) Live by faith in the Son of God. Christ is in you and He is the hope of glory. Surrender to the Lordship of Christ and continue to follow His lead. Victory in this life comes through daily surrender to the One who gave His life for you. Align your life to serve your Heavenly Father in full surrender. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Repentance Salvation Servitude

Transformation and Anticipation

Post author By Stephen Trammell
Post date February 5, 2014
5 Comments on Transformation and Anticipation

“For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 (ESV) Before you were saved, you were running to sin and running from God. Now that you are saved, you run to God and run from sin. In Christ, you experience an authentic transformation whereby your sins are removed, you are reconciled to God, and you receive the imputed righteousness of Christ. Your appetite for sin is replaced with an appetite for righteousness. You hunger and thirst for God. There are no substitutes for a vibrant love relationship with the Lord. Nothing else will ever satisfy. The orientation of your life is centered on serving the living and true God. The witness of the Thessalonian believers was widespread. Their authentic transformation reverberated throughout Macedonia and Achaia. Their contagious faith had become known everywhere. Turning to God from idols, they embodied the servitude of Christ and served the living and true God. They became an irresistible influence for the Lord. When you experience the transformation Christ provides, you embrace a life of anticipation. You wait expectantly for the return of Christ from heaven. You live in light of His resurrection and His rescue. There is no one else who can rescue you from the coming wrath. God will judge sin. Those who have rejected God’s plan of salvation will spend eternity separated from God. Rejoice! Your transformation in Christ changes your eternal destiny. Hell is not your destination. The transformation you experienced in Christ assures your ultimate destination in heaven. Jesus will come for His church prior to the Tribulation. Jesus will come with His church after the Tribulation to establish His millennial reign upon the earth. Live in light of His return! Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Humility Obedience Servitude

Create Space

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” John 13:14-15 (NIV) The sinless Son of God was willing to wash the feet of sinful men. Jesus exemplified the servitude that moves the heart of God. In humility, Jesus chose to live His life to benefit others. He did not come to be served, but to serve (Matt 20:28). You can sum up Jesus’ earthly ministry with one word: others! Our society promotes the self-centered lifestyle. It’s all about me and my happiness and my life and my gratification. The current of our culture slithers into fueling the selfish lifestyle. Embracing the philosophy of self-absorption is both honored and rewarded in our modern day worldliness. Get all you can and can all you get is the motto of the hour. Selfishness saturates the streets of our society. Jesus came to reverse the curse. As a follower of Jesus Christ, you are called to embrace the way of Jesus. Bring honor to God by doing what Jesus did. Orient your life to live to benefit others. Do you have room for others? Does your schedule allow you to place the needs of others before your own? Make adjustments to create space in your life to benefit others. The ultimate display of living to benefit others took place on the cross of Calvary when Jesus took on the full wrath of God for our sin. Though completely sinless, Jesus became the only acceptable sacrifice to redeem us from our sin. If Jesus was willing to do that for us, what would we be willing to do for Him? Serve Jesus by serving others. Love Jesus by loving others. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Jesus Love Servitude

Full Extent of Love

“It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.” John 13:1 (NIV) When do you feel most loved? Have you ever thought about that? In his book, The Five Love Languages, Gary Chapman identifies the specific language through which we best give and receive love. See if you can locate your love language: Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Gifts, Quality Time, and Physical Touch. You will by nature communicate love to others based on your primary love language. Jesus showed His disciples the full extent of His love by washing their feet. The Master chose to communicate love by serving His servants. Jesus demonstrated His love by putting His love into action. “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4 (NIV) “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” 1 John 3:16 (NIV) What is your heart longing for? To feel loved, are you in need of affirmation, someone to serve you, to give you a gift, to invest their time, or to show you affection? Receive the warmth of love Jesus has provided to you through His sacrificial death on the cross. His love for you is complete and unconditional. Once you have received His transforming love, choose to extend His love to others today by showing them the full extent of your love. When you put the needs of others before your own, you are emulating the love of Jesus. Live to benefit others and become a conduit of the flowing love of Jesus! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Leviticus Selflessness Servitude

Go the Extra Mile

“‘If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you.’” Leviticus 25:35 (ESV) Are you compelled to go the extra mile for others even when it hurts? Do you have that kind of heart for people? Going the extra mile to portray the love of Christ may invade your plans or even delay your personal agenda. “‘And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles’” Matt 5:41 (ESV). Consider the impact you can make by simply living to add value to others. Ready to go the extra mile? The Roman law in Jesus’ day gave a soldier the right to force a civilian to carry his equipment for a mile. It did not matter if the civilian had other plans or was going in the opposite direction. By law, the civilian had to carry the heavy load for a mile if selected by the soldier. That was the law as well as the clear expectation. Jesus illuminated the path for the believer to go beyond the expectation and to be willing to go the extra mile. Can you imagine the expression on the face of a Roman soldier when the mile was almost complete and the civilian announced that he would be glad to carry the equipment another mile? That makes me wonder how many Roman soldiers will be in heaven because of the civilians who portrayed the servitude of Christ by going the extra mile. I can picture a soldier asking the believer what would motivate him to go the extra mile. The believer would then share how Jesus had transformed his life personally and transformed his perception of others. Be willing to go the extra mile for a stranger or a close relative this week! Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 52: Leviticus 24-25) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Humility Obedience Servitude

Create Space

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” John 13:14-15 (NIV) The sinless Son of God was willing to wash the feet of sinful men. Jesus exemplified the servitude that moves the heart of God. In humility, Jesus chose to live His life to benefit others. He did not come to be served, but to serve (Matt 20:28). You can sum up Jesus’ earthly ministry with one word: others! Our society promotes the self-centered lifestyle. It’s all about me and my happiness and my life and my gratification. The current of our culture slithers into fueling the selfish lifestyle. Embracing the philosophy of self-absorption is both honored and rewarded in our modern day worldliness. Get all you can and can all you get is the motto of the hour. Selfishness saturates the streets of our society. Jesus came to reverse the curse. As a follower of Jesus Christ, you are called to embrace the way of Jesus. Bring honor to God by doing what Jesus did. Orient your life to live to benefit others. Do you have room for others? Does your schedule allow you to place the needs of others before your own? Make adjustments to create space in your life to benefit others. The ultimate display of living to benefit others took place on the cross of Calvary when Jesus took on the full wrath of God for our sin. Though completely sinless, Jesus became the only acceptable sacrifice to redeem us from our sin. If Jesus was willing to do that for us, what would we be willing to do for Him? Serve Jesus by serving others. Love Jesus by loving others. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Jesus Love Servitude

Full Extent of Love

Jesus Servitude Surrender

Aligning Your Life for Service

Post author By Stephen Trammell
Post date April 12, 2010
55 Comments on Aligning Your Life for Service

“‘The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.’” John 12:25-26 (NIV) Why did you wake up this morning? What are you giving your life to today? Who are you living for? God is working all things together for His glory and for your good. Today matters! God desires to conform you into the image of Christ. Christlikeness does not come without your willingness to fully surrender your life to the Holy Spirit’s control. As you choose to lose your life, the life of Christ becomes more evident in you. Consider embracing the attitude of servitude. Allow Jesus to live His life in you and through you. There’s room only for one to take the reins to your life. Will you give Jesus His rightful place in your life? You cannot live the life God has for you apart from Christ in you. Even on your best day, you will come up short of God’s perfection. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Gal 2:20 (NIV) Live by faith in the Son of God. Christ is in you and He is the hope of glory. Surrender to the Lordship of Christ and continue to follow His lead. Victory in this life comes through daily surrender to the One who gave His life for you. Align your life to serve your Heavenly Father in full surrender. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Adversity Crucifixion Servitude

Opportunity in Adversity

“And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, ‘Surely this man was the Son of God!’” Mark 15:39 (NIV) What was it about the final hours of Jesus’ life that made an eternal impact on the centurion who approved of the crucifixion of Jesus? What were the features of Jesus’ death that convinced the centurion that Jesus was the Son of God? I wonder how many crucifixions this centurion had witnessed before he even knew Jesus existed. Perhaps the centurion had personally witnessed hundreds or thousands of these executions. There was something about the way Jesus died that changed everything for this centurion. Maybe the centurion overheard the conversation between Jesus and the thief on the cross who said to Jesus, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom”(Luke 23:42 NIV). Jesus responded to the thief, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise”(Luke 23:43 NIV). Perhaps the centurion saw the grace of God in action as Jesus put the needs of someone else before His own. The centurion could have been standing close enough to overhear Jesus say to His mother, “Dear woman, here is your son” and to the disciple whom Jesus loved, “Here is your mother”(John 19:26-27 NIV). Maybe the centurion detected the deep love that Jesus had for His mother and the compassion Jesus extended from the cross. In the midst of extreme adversity, Jesus made sure His mother’s needs would be met. Of all the crucifixions the centurion assisted in, perhaps he had never seen such love. Adversity creates unique opportunities to show the love of Jesus as you serve others. Jesus exemplified servitude in the midst of extreme adversity. Are you watching for opportunities to serve others while you navigate the terrain of adversity? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Repentance Salvation Servitude

Transformation and Anticipation

Post author By Stephen Trammell
Post date February 5, 2010
51 Comments on Transformation and Anticipation

“They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead–Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” 1 Thess 1:9-10 (NIV) Before you were saved, you were running to sin and running from God. Now that you are saved, you run to God and run from sin. In Christ, you experience an authentic transformation whereby your sins are removed, you are reconciled to God, and you receive the imputed righteousness of Christ. Your appetite for sin is replaced with an appetite for righteousness. You hunger and thirst for God. There are no substitutes for a vibrant love relationship with the Lord. Nothing else will ever satisfy. The orientation of your life is centered on serving the living and true God. The witness of the Thessalonian believers was widespread. Their authentic transformation reverberated throughout Macedonia and Achaia. Their contagious faith had become known everywhere. Turning to God from idols, they embodied the servitude of Christ and served the living and true God. They became an irresistible influence for the Lord. When you experience the transformation Christ provides, you embrace a life of anticipation. You wait expectantly for the return of Christ from heaven. You live in light of His resurrection and His rescue. There is no one else who can rescue you from the coming wrath. God will judge sin. Those who have rejected God’s plan of salvation will spend eternity separated from God. Rejoice! Your transformation in Christ changes your eternal destiny. Hell is not your destination. The transformation you experienced in Christ assures your ultimate destination in heaven. Jesus will come for His church prior to the Tribulation. Jesus will come with His church after the Tribulation to establish His millennial reign upon the earth. Live in light of His return! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Servanthood Serve Servitude

It’s Your Serve (7)

“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.” Gal 5:13 (NIV) You are free! You have the freedom to serve and the freedom to choose not to serve. The freedom is yours to turn inward and become self-focused and self-absorbed. However, the freedom is yours also to turn outward and become other-focused. You can embrace the freedom you have in Christ and unleash that freedom to serve God and to serve to benefit others. Freedom can be abused. You can embrace your freedom to feed your flesh. As you feed the cravings of your sinful nature, your fleshly appetite will increase. Indulgence is a natural byproduct of our fallen nature. It is possible to drift into selfishness and self worship. Idolatry is simply the perversion of freedom. What if you captured your freedom in Christ like a sail capturing the wind in order to serve one another? Your mobility and your maneuverability for the Lord would be catalytic. Operating in the freedom that you have in Christ removes the curtain of darkness over the horizon. You have been set free by the shed blood of Jesus to pursue God and to participate in His Kingdom agenda. Serve one another in love. Impart to others the same unconditional love you have graciously received from God in Christ. It’s your serve! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Motivation Servanthood Serve Servitude

It’s Your Serve (6)

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:24-25 (NIV) What motivates you to serve God? What motivates you to serve to benefit others? It’s not our natural proclivity to serve. Serving is the result of an abiding relationship with Jesus. Selfishness flows like a river in the human race. Selflessness flows from the life of Christ through a believer fully yielded to Christ. “But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.” Romans 7:6 (NIV) “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” Heb 9:14 (NIV) Jesus took the initiative to pay the penalty for our sins so that we could die to sin and live for righteousness. As sheep, we follow our Shepherd’s lead. Jesus was willing to serve to benefit us immediately and eternally. We have been released from the law that once bound us in order to serve in the way of the Spirit. We have been empowered to live the Christ-centered life by the Indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus has provided the way for us to serve the living God! What is keeping you from serving God with full surrender and absolute devotion? What is keeping you from serving to benefit others in power of the Holy Spirit? It’s your serve! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Jesus Servanthood Serve Servitude

It’s Your Serve (5)

“I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” John 13:15 (NIV) God has called you to serve. You were rescued by God and reconciled to God in order to serve God by serving to benefit others. Your life purpose on the earth is to be Jesus beginning in your Jerusalem. Jesus has demonstrated what a life yielded to God’s purpose looks like. Jesus, though He was the master, chose to become the servant and wash His disciples’ feet. The lowly task of touching and washing dirty feet was the portrait of servitude exhibited by Jesus. As a follower of Jesus Christ, you are not asked to do anything Jesus has not already done. To learn how to love God and how to love people, simply examine the life of Christ. To learn how to serve God and how to serve people, fasten your focus on Jesus. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:2 (NIV) “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21 (NIV) Do as Jesus has done for you. Serve others as Jesus has served you by giving His life for you. Benefit others as Jesus has benefited you by bringing you into a right relationship with God. It’s your serve! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Barnabas Paul Servanthood Serve Servitude

It’s Your Serve (4)

“When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.” Acts 9:26-28 (NIV) Imagine the New Testament without Barnabas. What if Barnabas was unwilling to step up and stand in the gap for Saul (Paul)? What if Paul would not have been accepted by the apostles in the church at Jerusalem? Barnabas chose to serve Paul by befriending him and establishing him within the church at Jerusalem. As a result, Paul went on three missionary journeys and gave birth to many churches. Because Barnabas was willing to serve to benefit others, Paul was able to write what is now half of our New Testament. Remove Barnabas and we lose Paul. If we lose Paul, we lose half of the New Testament. Do you think that Barnabas made an eternal impact by serving to benefit others? What a wonderful example of serving! Barnabas is such a great example of what God can do with a person who is willing to serve to benefit others. Live to be a blessing! Choose to serve to benefit others! It’s your serve! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Barnabas Servanthood Serve Servitude

It’s Your Serve (3)

“Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.” Acts 4:36-37 (NIV) We are introduced to Barnabas in the flow of the movement of God known as the Jerusalem church. There were no needy people among the flock because the church family willingly sold some of their houses and land and brought the proceeds to the apostles for distribution. Barnabas embraced the “others-first” lifestyle. He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles. His real name was Joseph, but the apostles called him Barnabas. The name Barnabas means Son of Encouragement. Barnabas lived in such a way as to add value to the lives of others. He was the kind of believer who would draw out the best in others. “The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.” Prov 20:5 (NIV) Are you serving to benefit others? What if you sought to draw out the best in others? Think about the people God has placed in your sphere of influence. Think about your family, your friends, and your frequent acquaintances. What if you chose to serve to benefit them? Live in such a way as to add value to others. It’s your serve! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Servanthood Serve Servitude

It’s Your Serve (2)

Consumerism dominates our cultural landscape. We easily slide into a “what have you done for me lately” mindset. In the natural, being served by others has instant appeal. We crave being served. Scratch my back and then I will let you scratch my back again. In God’s kingdom economy, the focus shifts from selfishness to selflessness. As God’s kingdom citizens, we are to move away from a “me-first” mentality in order to embrace the “others-first” lifestyle. “‘For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’” Mark 10:45 (NIV) Jesus consistently lived the “others-first” lifestyle. As the Son of God, He had every right to be served, yet He chose to serve to benefit others. Jesus is our model to follow. Jesus is the ultimate example for us to emulate. We will never find a more accurate portrait of servitude than the One who gave His life for us. Who will benefit from your life today? Ask God to elevate your sensitivity to each opportunity to serve to benefit others. It’s your serve! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Servanthood Serve Servitude

It’s Your Serve (1)

The situation looked bleak as the disciples tried to figure out a way to feed the five thousand men. When you add in the women and children, the need to feed triples in number. Philip quickly responded to Jesus that it would take more than eight months’ wages to provide each person with a bite. Then Andrew brings a little boy with a sack lunch to Jesus. “Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, ‘Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?’” John 6:8-9 (NIV). We do not know the boy’s name, but we know something about his heart. This little boy was willing to serve to benefit others. He was willing to give up his lunch so that others could eat. Jesus maximized this little boy’s generosity and multiplied the blessing to meet all the needs. Not only did the little boy get to eat, but the multitudes ate as much as they wanted. Miraculously, the leftovers filled twelve baskets (John 6:13). What if we chose to serve to benefit others? How would Jesus use us to spread His love if we consistently put the needs of others before our own? It’s your serve! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor