74 To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of
our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness
before Him all the days of our life.
When Elizabeth gives birth to John, her husband Zacharias has
his heart and mouth filled with praise and he gives us a prophecy about the future
ministry of both the Messiah, Jesus, and his son John. But he also gives us an exhortation
to serve the Lord in verses 74-75. As we
said yesterday, we are saved to serve. We have been freed from sin that we
might become servants to God (Romans 6:18). It is good to be able to say,
"Thank God, I am saved," but it is better to be able to say,
"Thank God, I am the bondslave of Jesus Christ." Notice in these
verse all the wonderful aspects of our service to the Lord.
We must never forget that we serve Him. We serve the
Lord Jesus Christ! One is our Master, even Christ the Lord, and after we
experience Him for our salvation, our first question should be, like Paul, “What
will You have me to do” (Acts 9:6). And like Samuel, we should say, “Speak,
Lord, for Your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10). Yes, we serve Him! Jesus
first, not a ministry at the church, not a cause, not the good principle, but
the living Christ, our ever present gracious Lord, whose we are.
We can joyfully serve Him without fear. If we love
the Lord with all our heart this will be the character of our service, for
there is no fear in love; because perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18).
Having received the Spirit of adoption we are saved from slavish fear and serve
in the love of a son (Romans 8:15).
We must serve Him in holiness. As saved ones we are "called
with a holy calling" (2 Timothy 1:9). Called into the holy priesthood,
having been washed and clothed with holy robes that we might minister in holy
things as we eat the holy meat of the Word of God. We must be clean who bear
the vessels of the Lord (2 Timothy 2:19-22). “But as He who called you is
holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” (1 Peter 1:15).
We serve Him in righteousness. Our new man is
created after God in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24). So, the
new man is expected to serve God in righteousness as well as in holiness.
"In holiness" may refer to the nature of God within us. "In
righteousness," may refer to the Word of God before us. His holy nature
imparted to us gives us fitness for service. His Holy Word gives us righteous
principles for guidance in service for Him.
We also serve before Him. Sweet is the service that
is rendered in the consciousness of His presence and done as standing before
Him. Elijah could speak of "the Lord God of Israel before whom I
stand" (1 Kings 17:1). Abraham walked before God (Genesis 17:1; 48:15).
Serving before Him is the remedy for the fear of man, and the secret of dealing
with the disappointments and discouragements of ministry.
Finally, we should serve Him all the days of our life.
There is no discharge papers given to us in this holy war. The Levite might
retire after a limited number of years' service, but those delivered from sin
and wrath by the agony and blood of God's beloved Son are to serve Him all the
days of their life. Even in the days of our bodily infirmity and weakness, when
we can do nothing but look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews
12:2), may that look be the look of blessed submission, and holy trust in His
strength and grace for the journey!
Yes, Lord, please give
us grace and strength to serve You all the days of our lives!
God bless!
