WHAT IS SERVICE?

The true worship of God is to serve Him by keeping His Commandments.

The Preacher said:  “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: FEAR GOD AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS;  FOR THIS IS THE WHOLE DUTY OF MAN. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”  Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

The Ten Commandments are the Royal Law of God.  They are the whole duty of man.  Our Creator has given mankind a perfect law to obey.  His laws are not grievous --and  with God, it is possible to obey them.

It may surprise people; but worship assemblies are not mentioned in the Ten Commandments.  Jesus said this to the woman from Samaria:

John 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

John 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

The Ten Commandments are truth and  they are  known as the Ten Words of God. When Jesus said:  “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD  that proceeded out of the mouth of God.”  (Matthew 4:4 Deut 8:1-3)  He was referring to the Ten Commandments.  Since Jesus was quoting Deut 8:3, He was specifically including the Sabbath Commandment that reads: 

Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exodus 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
Exodus 20:10 But THE SEVENTH DAY IS THE SABBATH OF THE LORD THY GOD:  in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
Exodus 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Our duty to God is for us  (and all those within our gates) to complete all of our work in six days and rest the Sabbath Day.  (The seventh day = Saturday)  Notice that the commandment has no requirement for us to assemble in temples that are made with the hands of men.    Ponder these words that Paul said to the men of Athens:

Acts 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Think of the gracious wisdom of our Heavenly Father.  When we worship the Father in spirit and in truth, the deaf-mute who cannot praise God with words or song in a worship service is able to  keep the Sabbath.  The paralytic, who is confined to his bed, has a spirit that can leap for joy when he keeps the Sabbath.  Coal miners trapped in the dark bowels of the earth  and  prisoners in solitary confinement have no opportunity to attend a worship service;  but they can “walk  in the light” and have fellowship with the Father and the Son  because  they have chosen to obey God. 

The Sabbath commandment makes a distinction between the Creator of the heavens and the earth and all the gods of the heathen.  He doesn’t need any tribute money--and he won’t accept bribes.  What He requires of us is to show mercy, be just, and do righteousness.  Whenever the subject of worship comes up, let us prayerfully consider these words of the apostle Paul:

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service*.  [worship]  Romans 12:1

Donna Kupp

Notes:

What is “SERVICE”?

G2999 latreia
From G3000; ministration of God, that is, worship: - (divine) service.

The true worship of God is to serve Him by keeping His Commandments.

dk