Review of/Introduction to Scripture reading:

Here in this setting, it might at first appear to be a bit out of place to think of it, but I’d like us to think for a moment about how dog racing works. From the moment a greyhound is let out of its pen at the beginning of the race to the moment it crosses the finish line, it has one thing in mind, catching the “hare”. 

For the entirety of the race, the hare remains just out of reach from the fast moving pack of dogs. Never-the-less, they charge on as fast as their bodies and physics will allow, working their legs as hard as they can and instinctively cutting all the angles in an all out effort to just to get even one step closer to their prize.

Greyhounds are lithe and graceful to look at. Even standing still, it’s not hard to visualize how fast they can move. In prime racing fitness, they’re terribly lean of fat, rippling with muscles visible just under the skin, particularly in the areas of their bodies that matter most, their legs. Only to look at them is to know their purpose.

As a pack, they can often move in smooth ebbs and flows like waves on the open sea. At times, one dog might pull ahead and lead the pack while another drops behind. One hits the outside of a turn while another hugs the inside; every one of them, even when working within the context of a single pack, with a single purpose of mind; the prize.

When I say greyhound, whether I have one at my side or not, the odds are very high that you’re thinking exactly what I want you to think; racing and fast lean dogs.

Once the pack is off running, very little can be done to distract it away from its purpose. Of course, when one or more dogs are distracted, because it does happen, it can produce disastrous consequences, often causing serious, if not career ending, injuries to the dog.

Within the context of today’s text, I really like this analogy. It might be a crass way of saying it, but this is the picture that I see Paul painting for the Philippians; reach ever and always for that prize, which is the hope of your salvation. Don’t be idle, be distracted by nothing, and work with all of your passion together towards the common goal. Anything short of this jeopardizes your ability to be a part of the race.

Greyhounds aren’t bred the way they are without purpose any more than we’re not given faith without purpose. While a greyhound’s purpose manifests itself on the track, ours should manifest itself in our lives through the work that the *Lord* has prepared for us.

Scripture Reading  Text:

Philippians 1:27-30

Lessons from text:

Specifically, here are the lessons we can learn about service from today’s text. If at all possible this week, please try to take some amount of time, however short, to dig into these verses for yourselves in prayer and study in order to see them on your own and to more fully understand the implications and meaning behind them.

1.       The way in which we conduct ourselves as children of the living God will be measured against the perfect model that Christ has provided in himself

2.       True, or sincere, love for Christ should be self-evident in our life, not just to those around us, but to ourselves in private as well. As God said, “I Am” so must our love simply “be”

3.       We MUST work together as one and with equality. Even Christ our King lowered himself as our brother to the same work of the Gospel and the suffering for its cause.

4.       We will suffer under the blows of our adversaries, who may at times may even rise up from among ourselves, but the cause of their fight will be the instinctive retaliation against the effective testimony of the Gospel, which strikes them harder than any blow they could possibly throw at us

5.       If we don’t consistently exercise the faith given us through the means provided in our service, we will not be fit for the battles that lay ahead

Application/Conclusion:

This is the last for now that I have to post on the topic of service and I pray that it’s been both helpful and an encouragement to you.

As we’ve seen and been reminded of over the last four posts, God’s Word is very clear that service within the body is everyone’s responsibility, regardless of the office of responsibility in which we may or may not have been assigned.

The purpose of our work couldn’t be simpler, centering around one thing; the Gospel.

• We should not work for the sake of working. 
  
• We should not work only to fill our bellies.  
  
• We should not work for personal gain. 
  
• We should not work because “if we don’t, it won’t get done”. 
  
• We should not work in order to achieve or improve the quality of our perfect salvation.

• We should work and do what is required so that the body is able to pray and preach the Gospel. 
  
• We should work because we’re obedient to the heart that God gave us the moment we were born again. 
  
• We should work because we’re all preparing as one for the struggles that lie ahead, if it’s not already upon us. 
  
• We should work because we have a sincere desire and joy to be a part of God’s will. 
  
• We should work because this is the testimony that God has prepared for us.