Serve

Serve 

by David Brenneman 

Was reading the newsletter that my Spiritual Dad sends out and saw his closing remarks as well as his statement about the future of the ministry God called him to. A life of service to Jesus is what you see. Countless lives changed. He may be staying closer to home but he's still intent on serving through his God given ministry.  

Another person who I likewise looked up to, whom I had also known and worked for as well, was serving in his ministry even to his dying day. Again countless lives changed.

What will your life show of your time here on Earth? No this men weren't just singled out by God for their respective ministries...they knew and know that a life of service awaits those who turn to Christ for salvation. A decent look at the Gospel accounts shows that is a core essential to being a Christ-follower. Jesus's final words before ascending included telling His Disciples to go and make more disciples teaching them all that He commanded them.  

A life in Christ has a distinctive purpose in this moment of time for all who claim the name of Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. 

We don't come to Christ's lifeboat to sit on the deck drinking refreshments while He and others reach out to the lost.  

Pray about your calling in Christ Jesus. Find out what it is you specifically are to be doing. The only retirement plan of God is when we breathe our last. 

Look at the lives of the Disciples. 

How are you doing with regards to seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness? How are you at living out loud the Spirit within you?

Anyone can be a busy body.  

Anyone can look like they did something at least once a week for God. The point is living for Jesus isn't a one and done for the week. It isn't a Sunday service and off we go back to the world doing life like they do it apart from Jesus. 

You, if indeed you are saved, have something special and significant to contribute to the body of Christ His Church. Age doesn't matter.  

Physical ability doesn't matter. Mental acuity doesn't matter. All who sincerely come to Christ for salvation have a loving spiritual service in mind by God for them to be doing. There's no bench warmers. There's no vacations from service either. Jesus served wherever the Father took Him. 

Or do you not think that when Paul told Timothy that all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work was only for some mythical spiritual elite?

Many many people get some wild notion that serving Jesus is for others more spiritual than themselves. That's a lie of Satan. 

Pray about your contribution to the work of Jesus in your world. People want to know what the will of God is for them? It's right in front of you. Ask God and do what He's telling you and leave the consequences to Him.  

We don't need to overthink or be anxious about what we might be called to do in Christ. God will fit our personality, our uniqueness, into His body as the Spirit directs. That's His promise. We don't need to listen to the lies about how we are going to miss out on so much. Give up so much. Really? God who holds everything in His hands as well as our ability to breathe and live isn't going to know what's truly best for us?

Jesus said He didn't come to be served but to serve. To give His life as a ransom for many.  

Do you really want to hear Jesus ask you why you didn't do what He called you to be doing?  

Pray and pray until you get your answer. Age is meaningless to Jesus just ask Moses. He and a quite a few others tried that excuse. Such as Abraham and Sarah. 

The church needs to step up and be the Church. You are the church wherever Jesus takes you. Thousands and thousands of locations. 

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you. 

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.