June 7 - Serving Only One Master - Devotional

GracetoYou.org ^ | 2008 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church

[metmom]

“‘No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth’” (Matthew 6:24).

Just as we cannot have our treasures both in earth and in heaven or our bodies both in light and in darkness, we cannot “serve two masters.” The Greek word for “masters” is often translated “lord,” and often refers to a slave owner.

By definition, a slave owner has total control of the slave. For a slave there is no such thing as partial or part-time obligation to his master. He owes full-time service to his master. He is owned and totally controlled by and obligated to his master. To give anything to anyone else would make his master less than his master. It is impossible to “serve two masters” and fully or faithfully be the obedient slave of each.

In this way we can’t claim Christ as Lord if our allegiance is to anything or anyone else, including ourselves. And when we know God’s will but resist obeying it, we give evidence that our loyalty is to someone or something other than Him. But the person whose master is Jesus Christ can say that when he eats or drinks or does anything else, he does “all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). Make your allegiance to Christ your priority each and every day.

Ask Yourself

What alternative “masters” compete the hardest for your devotion? How has the inviolable truth of this “no man can serve two masters” statement been proven true in your life and in your observation of others? But why do we seem so intent on trying to have it that way anyway?

From Daily Readings from the Life of Christ, Vol. 1, John MacArthur. Copyright © 2008. Used by permission of Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL 60610, www.moodypublishers.com.

[metmom]

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[metmom]

Studying God’s Word ping

[ViLaLuz]

“Make your allegiance to Christ your priority each and every day.”

Great reminder. Amen.

[MurphsLaw]

“Make your allegiance to Christ your priority each and every day.”

Yes that is a good reminder to be sure.
One way I have found is to start the day is with how Jesus told his Apostles how to pray- with The Our Father… who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name…
Though that prayer gives the allegiance to God, The Father almighty-
He sent us His Son -
and so Jesus wants even more from us, the Love of friendship.
John 15 conveys it perfectly…

10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love……
14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.
15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing;
but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you