The Joy of Service

I started three weeks ago, on the first anniversary of this ministry, by sharing how we need to serve the Lord from the heart. Unless we have the right footing and we are not serving in any ministry or group in church from compulsion or under peer pressure, the ministry will not last. We might start off with all good intentions but unless the Lord blesses the work, all will be in vain (Psalms 127: 1(a)). In whatever we do, whether it is in our home, our workplace or in church, we need the Lord to guide us and bless our efforts. Otherwise we will run out of steam after a while and we will experience "burnt-out" symptoms.

In all that we do we only make use of whatever we have received and what is placed into our hands. I am not a musician and not musically inclined. Therefore I will not be able to serve in the music ministry. But I may be comfortable in meeting people and therefore I can be an encouragement in a small group setting. Whatever we feel comfortable in doing, let us do because of the love we experienced in Jesus our Lord. It is not to please others that we do it but we love because Jesus first loves us. That is our motivation to love and to serve.......

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19 "And my God shall
supply all your need
according to His riches
in glory by Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19 NKJV

24 " He who calls you is
faithful, who also will
do it."
1 Thess 5:24 NKJV

What horrifying tragedy happened to the Jews at Masada?

This incident was so terrible that the murderous Romans were unable to take pleasure in the sight.

"A steep narrow trail called the Snake's Path winds its way to the top. When you reach the barred summit and look Out in the burning bright sunlight, you are overwhelmed by the loneliness of the place. It is a formidable site cut off on all sides by steep valleys. Here 2000 years ago Herod the Great built a powerful fortress and a luxurious palace as a refuge from his enemies. The wall surrounding the mountain top had 37 defense towers. After Herod's death Masada was occupied for 70 years by a Roman garrison. Then in 66 AD came the Great Revolt of the Jewish Zealots. A party of them captured Masada and to this remote place gathered multitudes of refugees, men, women, and children."
- Masada YIGAEL YADIN

The Unimaginable
Decades after Jesus' death, Zealots engineered a revolt against Rome. The uprising was brutally stamped out and ended with Jerusalem's destruction in 70 AD. Survivors fled to Masada, a fortress built by Herod near the Dead Sea. Today, the excavated remains of Masada have become a national symbol for all Israelis.

Here 900 Zealots held out until the year 73. Then, the inevitable day came when 15,000 Roman troops breached its walls. Since it was late in the day, the Romans delayed the final attack until dawn. That night the survivors met and voted for suicide, rather than for capture.

Summarizing the Horrifying Incident
The survivors drew lots and chose 10 men to slay all the rest. Each man lay down on the ground with his wife and children and embraced them. Together, they awaited the blow from the men chosen to deliver it. When the 10 executioners had, unflinchingly, completed their task, they drew lots again to see who would kill the other 9, and then, take his own life.

At dawn, the Romans poured through the breached walls. Fires burned quietly everywhere. A ghostly stillness hung over the air. Finally, 2 old women and 3 small children came out of hiding to tell the story. The contemporary Jewish historian Josephus concludes his report of Masada with these striking words:

"When the Romans saw the mass of slain, they were unable to take pleasure in the sight, even though the people were their enemies." -Jewish Wars FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS