If you thought your call to Christ meant all sunshine and no rain, or all smiles and no tears or only comfort and peace and no toil or strain then leave the room. If that is what you are looking for, prepare for disappointment because you’re not going to see it on this road we journey on in mortal life. You’ll get it in the next life but certainly not in this one.
1 Corinthians Chapter 10 Verse 31
“When you eat or drink or do anything else, always do it to honour God.”
“Anything” and “Always”, these are 2 tough and hard hitting words, it’s far to easy to pass them by quickly, but you can’t get past them, listen again, “Anything” and “Always”.
You don’t need to carry a list with you, because everything is on it and you don’t need a diary because it’s always, it never stops.
Do you know what serving is? I put this question to the teenage class when I looked at this idea with them. Often we get the big grand gestures stuck in our heads. David was a servant of God because he led the people. Moses was a servant of God because he led the people. Yes, both them and many others were servants, but not because of any grand things.
Naaman had the same problem, one I think is probably endemic in Christendom that righteousness and spirituality are only found in the big and dramatic.
2 Kings 5 Verses 12-14
Aren't the Abana River and Pharpar River of Damascus better than all the rivers of Israel put together? Why shouldn't I wash in them and be healed?" So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.
But his officers tried to reason with him and said, "Sir, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, wouldn't you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply to go and wash and be cured!"
So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his flesh became as healthy as a young child's, and he was healed!
The beginning of service is giving yourself over completely to the Will of God.
In Numbers Chapters 4 21-28
An example of simple but important service, requested directly by God. Fetching and carrying doesn’t seem to suggest holy and righteousness, nevertheless.
Jesus stunned the Samaritan woman when He asked her for some water. The Jew/Samaritan and Male/Female stuff aside, the heart, the essence of it is a request for some water. Do you think she reflected with a smile on her face as the years passed of when the Master asked her for some water?
Jesus, as always is who we imitate and fashion ourselves into.
He was the one who became a servant to His Father, to go about His business and His Will. He was the one who became a child, subject to His Mother. He was the one who became a man to suffer with us as a brother and become our atonement.
When He healed the sick, He taught us compassion. When He exposed hypocrisy, He taught us boldness. When He was tempted, He taught us endurance and hardness, against our enemy. When He forgave His enemies. He taught us meekness. Whether at a wedding or funeral, within a crowd or alone, with friends or in the company of enemies. He showed us, He taught us on how we are to be.
Jesus supplicated Himself to His Fathers business. And being about His Fathers business called Him into some hardship in His service.
It made Him sweat drops of blood.
It put a crown of thorns on His head.
It put a torn, gouged and bloody back on Him.
It put mockers before Him, spitting on Him, taking His clothes.
Thankfully though it’s also put Him at the right side of the Father, pleading for us day and night.
He did it and is doing it still because He subjected Himself to the Will of the Father.
And you’ll say to me and you will say to God?
What can I do? I can’t do those things.
You’ll tell me.
1.I have no money.
2.My partner isn’t a believer and they insult me.
3.My health stops me. I can’t do much.
Bear these things with patience and you’re doing your Fathers business.
You’ll tell me
1.I have to work all day
2.I can’t preach a lesson.
Do it for God and listen with the prayers and sing with the hymns and you’re doing just as much.
You’ll ask me. What if no one notices?
I’ll say, who cares, serving is it’s own reward.
You’ll say “Sometimes I don’t feel like it.”
I’ll tell you that God is working in you to make you willing and able to serve.
You’ll ask me “How do I worship through service?”
I’ll tell you that your service is your Worship to God. Do it without grumbling or arguing, and then your service is your offering of Worship to God.
If we do that then we can what it says in
Romans 15 Verse17
In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my Work for God.
On Wednesday past initiated by Maria, we tidied up I’d say about 90% of our bedroom, things were thrown out, donated, sorted, tidied. It was the kind of time that I love. We all worked hard, each doing what they could and doing it peaceably, in harmony, as a team, as a family, as one. That is worship through service. When Cathie sewed some stuff for us that was worship through service. Putting the kettle on each week for the tea, worship through service. Giving what you can in the giving joyfully, even though you don’t consider it much, worship through service.
Sometimes you may be set a great act of service which will be a challenge to rise to and accept but when you are called to serve, often a person’s needs are simple. Some water, some food or a friendly ear. You may not have the cure for the disease and you’re not asked to give it, but you can still cheer their soul. You have the power to gladden someone’s heart, to lift their spirits, give some peace to a troubled heart.
Matthew 25 Verse 40
“And the King will make answer and say to them, Truly I say to you because you did it to the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
Go, Serve and Worship.