Evidence of our beliefs in our acts.

Malachi 3:17-18
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On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him.
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And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

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What a strange statement. A mystery.

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Luke 15:25-27
25
“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
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So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.
27
‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

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Luke 15:19-22
19
I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’
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So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
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“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

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Oh how loved is the one whom repents, the one whom returns home, humbled, and sincere. The son that then serves in wisdom, whose knowledge of sin only brought him to seek righteousness. The wicked claim righteousness in their acts to honor themselves in the sight of God. The righteous are those who recognize righteouness is of the Father alone.

We supply evidence of our beliefs in our acts.

It is one thing to provide what is expected of you in order to provide for yourself. It is quite another thing to serve knowing you deserve nothing, yet are honored simply in the ability to serve. We are not God. Even the Holy One of God is 'of God'. We serve, and this is how we supply evidence of our beliefs in our acts.

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Luke 17:7-10
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“Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’?
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Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’?
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Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do?
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So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ ”

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Jesus did his Father's will. He served without expectation. He loved those who hated him, he did so to show the Father he could put himself aside to allow the will of the Father to be done through him. He did this because he loved the Father, not because he feared Him. He loved the Father. Yet the mystery. The Father seemed to no have shown compassion; not sparing the son whom served him.

So the mystery is this:

The Father did not spare Jesus the full cup of wrath, because it was the Father's will to fulfill His promise to His son. And Jesus had to die for all our sins, in order that he could claim all whom were promised to him. The compassion of the Father was to honor His son, by allowing the him to serve. We supply evidence of our beliefs in our acts. Jesus proved the Father righteous, and the wickedness of those who claimed to be righteous were shown as wicked.
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To carve this lesson into stone, we see Jesus preparing to die, kneel and wash the feet of those who he loved because it was his Father's will. He did so to show them, we supply evidence of our beliefs in our acts. Jesus believed service supplies evidence of our beliefs in our acts. He wanted his disciples to love one another, and to serve to make plain their beliefs. Not in ceremony but sincerity.

We supply evidence of our beliefs in our acts.

To serve God is to deny self, and in sincerity serve lovingly. Not to gain position but because the opportunity to serve is a form of the Father's compassion. Not unlike the grace we are in because it was the Father's will it be so.

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