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Pierce My Ear: A Choice of Love and Service in Christ

Delve into biblical teachings on voluntary service to Christ, reflecting love through obedience and an outward mark of faith. Embrace a lifelong commitment to serve Jesus with dedication and faithfulness.

frankbirch
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Pierce My Ear: A Choice of Love and Service in Christ

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  1. Pierce My Ear

  2. Background • God tells the Jews (who had just come out of slavery) that they were not to enslave their own forever, but let them go after six years • Exodus 21:2-6; Deut. 15:12-18 (“awl” is found only here in the OT)

  3. Background • His continued service was a choice • His choice was based upon love for his master • His choice was finalized with an outward mark for all to see • His choice of service was forever

  4. Service is a Choice • We don’t have to be a faithful serving Christian, we can be “free” to live in world • We are invited, but not forced to serve Jesus (Mt. 11:28-30) • We willingly, voluntarily choose to be Christ’s bondservant (1 Cor. 7:22)

  5. Service is a Choice • We can remain a servant of sin or be a servant of righteousness, either way we are a servant (Rom. 6) • “Freedom” from Christ is an illusion (2 Pet. 2:19)

  6. A Choice Based Upon Love • Why love Jesus the Master, what has he done to be loved? • He loved us first (Eph. 3:19; 5:2, 25) • He is a kind Master (Jude 4) • We don’t just say “I love you”, we show it (Jn. 14:15; Gal. 5:13)

  7. A Choice Based Upon Love • We should have an incorruptible love for Christ (Eph. 6:24; 1 Pet. 1:8) • We can leave our first love for Christ (Rev. 2:4)

  8. An Outward Mark • Why the ear? The piercing would be non-threatening, but it would show an outward sign of obedience (Psa. 40:6) • Our service is not to be hidden like “closet Christians”, but obvious and permanent (Gal. 6:17; Gr. stigmata, prick, mark)

  9. An Outward Mark • Some outward marks for the sinner: repentance (changed life), confession (words heard), baptism (an act in water) • Some outward marks for the saint: assembling, acts of worship, the work of the church, personal evangelism, hospitality

  10. Service Forever • The only service that Jesus accepts is life-long service (2 Tim. 4:6-8) • Cowards and quitters are not rewarded for their partial service (Rev. 21:8)

  11. Pierce My Ear Is it time for you to pierce your ear!

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