Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said to him, Get you behind me, Satan: for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God… I. HE HAS THE RIGHT TO CLAIM OUR SERVICE. His right is threefold. He is — 1. Our Creator. 2. Our Preserver. 3. Our Redeemer. II. HIS CLAIM UPON US IS FOR OUR UNDIVIDED AND WHOLE-HEARTED SERVICE. "Him only." You cannot serve Him and anything else that is contrary to Him. Our "reasonable service " is the presentation of ourselves. III. HIS SERVICE CONFERS THE HIGHEST HONOUR UPON THOSE WHO UNDERTAKE IT. To serve self and sin is to sink always deeper into the depths of degradation. To serve God is to be exalted to the position of fellow-labourer with Him in the accomplishment of His purposes. IV. HIS SERVICE IS THE ONLY SERVICE WHICH IS FREEDOM. "I will walk at liberty, for I seek Thy precepts." V. THE SERVICE WHICH HE HAS A RIGHT TO DEMAND HE YET CONDESCENDS TO ENTREAT. He seeks for no compulsory obedience. The only service acceptable in His sight is that which springs from love. "My son, give Me thy heart." (J. R. Bailey.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. |
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