Will You Serve HIM?

With the end of another presidential process and a new President Elect there are many people standing in the wings hoping to get chosen to serve in the Cabinet or in other prestigious positions. I recently heard a newscaster ask someone if they would be willing to serve. His answer was, “I am willing to serve anywhere I am asked.” This answer has been repeated by others as well.

When I heard that phrase I thought, “That is what Jesus is asking all of us to do; to be willing to serve Him anywhere He asks us.” There is nothing wrong in desiring to serve our country. But to serve Jesus is so much better. And it is even possible to do both at the same time! This got me to thinking about the “call to serve” in the spiritual realm.

Jesus set the example before us by giving the supreme sacrifice. We read in Mark 10:45, “The man of God came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus left his home in heaven with His Father to come to earth as a baby. He lived a perfect life as both God and man and after 30 years He preached the Gospel and called people to believe in Him. Then he died on a cross to buy our pardon from sin. But that wasn't the end. This was the beginning, because Jesus arose from the grave and soon after ascended back to heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Throne of God making intercession for us. He taught us how to serve selflessly.

Romans 12:1, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” This speaks of surrender. Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

I Samuel 12:24, “Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you.”

Joshua 22:5, “Be careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

John 12:26, “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”

A good number of people may think if they surrender to God's call to serve that they will be on a jet to Africa. We can't all go to Africa! There are places of service all over the world and you could be called to go. But you may also be called to “stay”. There is a mission field in your back yard - your community. Every time you go to a check out counter, there could be a person who needs your smile, a kind word, or even a quickly spoken word about Jesus. You can find these people in all walks of life as you interact with doctors, nurses, auto mechanics, the newspaper carrier, colleagues, teachers, business people, cashiers, janitors, . . . the list goes on and on!

Multitudes of people have said Yes to His call, beginning with the disciples. Down through time, many have heeded the call to serve a living God, from Bible days to the present age. If the Lord nudges you to do something, say something or give something, what will your answer be?

I Peter 4:10-11, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies – in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.”