The Christian Message

  LIBERATED TO SERVE   We are exhorted in the New Testament as sons of God to imitate our Brother, to have the same attitude we see in Jesus. For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. —GALATIANS 5:13  Another word for liberty is a privilege. We are not to use our liberty or privileges as children of the living God to serve Lest We Offend Them  113  ourselves. Liberty is to be used to serve others. There is freedom in serving but bondage in slavery. A slave is one who has to serve, while a servant is one who lives to serve.  Let’s look at some of the differences between a slave’s attitude and a servant’s:  • A slave has to—a servant gets to.  • A slave does the minimum requirement—a servant reaches the maximum potential.  • A slave goes one mile—a servant goes the extra mile.  • A slave feels robbed—a servant gives.  • A slave is bound—...

  Jesus offended His own family members.        Even those of His own house were offended by Him. They were not pleased with the pressure that was being put on them by what He was doing. They found it hard to believe He was behaving the way He was. Let’s look:       But when His own people [or “family,” NIV] heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.” ...His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You.” But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?” And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.” —MARK 3:21, 31–35       His own family thought that He was out of His mi...