Serving Jesus

John 12:26

 “If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me.  Then you’ll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment’s notice.  The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me.”  (The Message)

The highest calling of mankind is to know God and to serve Him.  Too often this service to God gets twisted and derailed by the many demands of others who may well have good intentions, but are not focused on the person of Jesus.  Even our best churches, with their mature believers can be a hindrance to following Christ.  When we are first saved there is such zeal for the things of God – to just love Him and be where He is, doing what He is doing.

 Then, before long, the needs of the church begin to draw a caring individual into helping one of its many programs.  Workers are needed everywhere.  There is need for ushers, office help, children’s workers, youth workers, prayer team, etc..  The list goes on and on.  Sooner or later a department leader will be recruiting you into their ministry, as you are the answer to their prayer.  Before long, each night of the week can be filled with meetings, prayer gatherings, ministry times and social events for either you or one in your household.  Your life is full, serving God.

 Then, when you add it all together, your schedule is overbooked.  In addition to serving God in the church, there are the demands of work or housework, school, after school events, weekend events, and chores galore that fill your day timer and leave no room for anything else.  You can so busy serving God that there is no time left to actually serve Him.

 Many novice believers get caught in this trap.  If fact, so do those who have been saved for many years.  The highest calling is to free your life from its many cares so that you may take more time to be near God Himself.  To love and seek God with all you heart, soul and mind on a daily basis is the purpose of mankind.  Our purpose is not discovered in the busyness that devourers every moment in good works.  Our freedom is in the Lord, not works.

 The verse in John 12 sets the target for our serving.  To serve God means to keep your eyes on Him and go where He goes.  To do that, you must be a daily follower of Christ, not just a believer.  It is not enough to believe, we all need to be where He is.  Then, you will be included, honored and blessed with being a participant in His work.  This is our fulfillment.

 Each morning as you rise, call out to Him in your first thoughts of the day.  I know a man who is one of our present day spiritual leaders.  The first thing he does every morning is to roll out of bed onto his knees to give his life to Christ as his first act of the day.  Praise and worship are means of serving God.  Songs of rejoicing are music to His ears when they are given with a willing heart.  Seeking God in study of His Word pleases the Almighty.  And, of course, it delights the Lord when your faith keeps you searching for Him all the day long.  Then, at night as you go to bed your last thoughts are of Him in thanksgiving for another day of being near Him.

 Serving the Lord means just that, serve Him.