More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
A community built the tabernacle, not an elite handful; a community creates a house for God. All the people contribute, not just the leaders. Everyone who has a heart for it is part of it.
some of our best opportunities to serve come every day among those we love.
The kindness of Boaz, like God’s justice, shows no partiality. Boaz helps us understand the “second great commandment”: loving our neighbor as we love ourselves (Matt 22:39).
Boaz served from a position of power by helping with the resources at his disposal; Ruth served by doing whatever she could with a joyful and willing spirit.
Behold, Lord, an empty vessel that needs to be filled. My Lord, fill it. I am weak in the faith; strengthen me. I am cold in love; warm me and make me fervent that my love may go out to my neighbor. —Martin Luther
As Dallas Willard writes, “The discipline of service is even more important for Christians who find themselves in positions of influence, power, and leadership. To live as a servant while fulfilling socially important roles is one of the greatest challenges any disciple ever faces.”2
Nehemiah’s sense of justice was derived from both his relationship with God and his concern for his fellow humans.
Nehemiah, the man of action, practiced what he preached.
Theology and ethics are inseparable.
the incredible extent of Jesus’ love, the ignorance of human responses, and the immensity of Christ’s servanthood.
This shows how God used administrative means to solve a spiritual problem.
The early disciples chosen to make even distributions of food to the widows in their fellowship had to be reputable, Spirit-filled, and wise.
Paul, “a servant of this gospel,” labors tirelessly for the spreading of the word of God (1:29). Serving his Lord, he shares also in his Lord’s burden. In effect, he shares in his Lord’s cross. In general, we might say that through the selfless sacrifice of believers, the reality and power of the cross of Christ extend through history in a real way.
Paul rejoices in his suffering. There is something counterintuitive about this. What Paul means is that, in his suffering as a result of his ministry, he has entered more fully into communion with the Lord of the cross. He shares in the life and death of Christ, and thus also in his resurrection. This, for Paul, is the living out of his baptism.
Loving service to the saints seems to be the norm, not the exception.
Self-righteous service flows out of human effort and goals; true service flows out of God and love.
Practicing the discipline of secrecy simply relinquishes to God the power to reveal our light. This submission is only appropriate, because everything in us that is good comes from God.
letting God be our public relations department.
Guard your speech carefully, working to curb any impulse to brag or to present yourself in a more favorable light.
Giving, praying, and fasting are even to be done in secret, removing the motivation to show off or display piety before others.
JESUS REPEATEDLY CONDEMNS playacting,
The dichotomy between appearance and reality, between word and deed, draws Jesus’ most profound criticism.
The Pharisees are so concerned with looking righteous to others that their study and service ...
This highlight has been truncated due to consecutive passage length restrictions.
Letting our light shine is God’s business, for his glory;
ISAIAH SHOWS US that God is powerfully and decisively—though hiddenly—engaged everywhere in the reality of the world. Once we acknowledge this claim, then the work of our faith is to relinquish in life, personal and public, all that contradicts the reality and purpose of God and to receive from God what we cannot generate ourselves.
Dear Lord, so often I fall into thinking that my worth is derived from the opinions of others. Teach me to seek riches hidden in secret places, so that I might understand better the joys of your company and your blessings for your sake alone. In your name I pray. Amen.
Living in God, making the Most High our “dwelling place” (91:9), shows a deep trust, a stability that inspires the confidence in this psalm.
SOMETIMES IT IS hard to live quietly and mind our own affairs.
One of the best ways to practice the discipline of secrecy is to pray for success and honors for those around us, that they may be held up above ourselves.
