Introduction: “Standing out” can sound a bit self seeking of glory. It could, but it can mean something else! To stand out can mean indicating difference from the surroundings; being out-standing can make the difference between poor, mediocre and excellent advertising. The last recorded words that Jesus spoke when He was on earth as a man were “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And if we are witnesses we are surely meant to be ‘to be stand-outs advertising Him!
1 John 5: 1-5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? – Coming to the end of his life John is desirous that Christians won’t be slightly different from the world (people who haven’t surrendered to Jesus) but be true overcomers! I take it to mean that we should be living by God’s standards!
Romans 13: 8-10 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. – Jesus in Luke 10 in the passage about the Good Samaritan emphasised that the law is in 2 parts – how we see God and dealing with our neighbours! In the passage above St Paul says that the whole of the law in Exodus 20, related to interpersonal relationships is summed up by ‘Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.‘
Deuteronomy 6: 2&3 – that you may fear the LORD your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey. – The God of the old and New Testaments is the same God!
John 13: 12-17 – When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. – The Master is the perfect example of who and what He wants His followers to be!
Col 3: 22-24 – Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Prayer: I would be true to You in every way, my Master.
As I read it! 