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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Heritage of Service</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/h/heritage_of_service.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/exodus/19-6.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/h/heritage.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Heritage of Service</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/h/heritage_of_faith.htm" title="Heritage of Faith">◄</a> Heritage of Service <a href="/topical/h/heritage_of_worship.htm" title="Heritage of Worship">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div>The concept of a "Heritage of Service" is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, reflecting the call to serve God and others as an integral part of the Christian life. This theme is woven throughout Scripture, emphasizing the importance of service as a response to God's love and grace.<br><br><b>Old Testament Foundations</b><br><br>The Old Testament lays the groundwork for understanding service as a divine mandate. The Israelites were chosen by God to be a "kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (<a href="/exodus/19-6.htm">Exodus 19:6</a>), signifying their role in serving God and mediating His presence to the world. The Levitical priesthood exemplifies this heritage of service, as the Levites were set apart to serve in the tabernacle and later the temple, performing sacrifices and maintaining the sacred space (<a href="/numbers/3-5.htm">Numbers 3:5-10</a>).<br><br>Service is also evident in the lives of the patriarchs and prophets. Abraham, called to be a blessing to all nations (<a href="/genesis/12-2.htm">Genesis 12:2-3</a>), exemplifies service through his obedience and hospitality. The prophets, such as Isaiah and Jeremiah, served by delivering God's messages to the people, often at great personal cost (<a href="/isaiah/6-8.htm">Isaiah 6:8</a>, <a href="/jeremiah/1-4.htm">Jeremiah 1:4-10</a>).<br><br><b>New Testament Fulfillment</b><br><br>In the New Testament, Jesus Christ embodies the ultimate example of service. He declares, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many" (<a href="/mark/10-45.htm">Mark 10:45</a>). Jesus' life and ministry were marked by acts of service, from healing the sick to washing the disciples' feet (<a href="/john/13.htm">John 13:1-17</a>). His sacrificial death on the cross is the pinnacle of His service, providing salvation for humanity.<br><br>The early church continued this heritage of service, as seen in the Acts of the Apostles. The apostles appointed deacons to serve the needs of the community, ensuring that the distribution of food was handled equitably (<a href="/acts/6.htm">Acts 6:1-6</a>). The apostle Paul frequently exhorted believers to serve one another in love, using their spiritual gifts for the edification of the church (<a href="/galatians/5-13.htm">Galatians 5:13</a>, <a href="/1_corinthians/12-4.htm">1 Corinthians 12:4-7</a>).<br><br><b>Theological Implications</b><br><br>Theologically, the heritage of service is rooted in the imago Dei, the belief that humans are created in the image of God (<a href="/genesis/1-27.htm">Genesis 1:27</a>). As image-bearers, Christians are called to reflect God's character, which includes His nature as a servant. Service is not merely an obligation but a reflection of God's love and a means of participating in His redemptive work in the world.<br><br>Furthermore, service is an expression of the Great Commandment to love God and neighbor (<a href="/matthew/22-37.htm">Matthew 22:37-39</a>). It is through acts of service that believers demonstrate their love for God and fulfill their calling to be His witnesses (<a href="/acts/1-8.htm">Acts 1:8</a>).<br><br><b>Practical Application</b><br><br>In practical terms, the heritage of service calls Christians to engage in various forms of ministry, both within the church and in the broader community. This includes acts of charity, social justice, evangelism, and discipleship. The New Testament encourages believers to serve with humility and sincerity, as unto the Lord (<a href="/colossians/3-23.htm">Colossians 3:23-24</a>).<br><br>The heritage of service is a vital aspect of Christian identity, shaping the way believers live out their faith in everyday life. It is a legacy passed down through generations, inspiring Christians to serve faithfully and selflessly, following the example of Christ.</div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/h/heritage.htm">Heritage</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/d/distribution.htm">Distribution (32 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/l/lowlands.htm">Lowlands (25 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/l/lordship.htm">Lordship (12 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/favorable.htm">Favorable (18 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/reassign.htm">Reassign (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/exercising.htm">Exercising (5 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/apportion.htm">Apportion (19 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/h/hermas.htm">Hermas (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/acceptance.htm">Acceptance (24 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/becoming.htm">Becoming (75 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/d/downfall.htm">Downfall (46 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/h/helper.htm">Helper (58 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/h/heritage.htm">Heritage (435 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/j/jehovah.htm">Jehovah (20094 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/y/yahweh.htm">Yahweh (6653 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/servant.htm">Servant (738 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/restore.htm">Restore (122 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/d/decision.htm">Decision (174 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/d/discomfiture.htm">Discomfiture (6 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/l/lord.htm">Lord (59401 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/peter.htm">Peter (181 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/first.htm">First (4693 Occurrences)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/h/heritage_of_faith.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Heritage of Faith"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Heritage of Faith" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/topical/h/heritage_of_worship.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Heritage of Worship"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Heritage of Worship" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></div></td></tr></table></div></div></div> <br /><br /> <div align="center"> <div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>