Developing the Disciplines in your Walk (part VI)

September 18, 2007 5:42 pm admin Blogs

This week we look at the Spiritual Discipline of SERVING.

When we speak of spiritual discipline we are talking about the shape or the form or the normal way of life of a Christian. It is my goal in this series of blogs to help us know more of what our everday perspective and activity should be as followers of Jesus.

Mat 20:26-28 “It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

1 Pet 2:16 “Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.”

Serving is a big topic. It is closely connected to the very purpose for which we were made as humans, to serve or glorify God. When we do not do that we are serving something or someone else, but we are always serving.

What is it to serve? From ancient kings who had handmaidens to fan them with palm branches to the hip hop artist or pop singer or movie star on the front of a magazine…people have thought the goal in life or the good life is to be a person where you are served.

The Bible teaches that there is only one who is to be served and that is God alone. The way of life for a Christian is to be a way of service. This is the way Jesus taught us and the way in which will truly satisfy us. When we are not actively serving God, either in our everyday operational perspective or not practically do anything to contribute to God’s kingdom…then we are in danger.

We are not to serve God as though he needs us to or the job will not get done (Acts 17:25). We are to serve because that is what we were made to do and we are most satisfied as humans when we are serving Jesus rather than serving anyone or anything else.

This does not necessarily mean where you go to church or what you do at church…but it is your perspective. Whether the world is yours to be taken and used at your disposal or whether it is something you join in praise to God with and use to profit the gospel.

Human beings are meant to serve and worship Jesus and his church. What are you currently committed to doing for Jesus’ church? Who each day are you making it your goal to serve? If you are serving God what is your motive? Why are you serving? What is it to serve?

God is to be at the forefront of our heart and devotion and if he is we will easily lapse into serving something else and we will end up miserable for it. So make it your daily discipline to serve Jesus. If you haven’t done something outside of your normal way of life to serve God do that htis week and start making a habit of it. Walk through each day with an attitude of service. If you don’t contribute your time, talents or treasure to Jesus’ church, start doing that. In everything it is not people you are serving but the Lord God who is pleased with the discipilne of service. And when he is pleased we are ushered into the life of praise are intended for.

-Pastor Duane