Someone has said, “The pay in God's service may be small, but the retirement benefits are out of this world.”
Since the blood of Christ secures our salvation, it also motivates us for service. If we have the grace of God in our heart, we will manifest that grace in our life. The biblical pattern is salvation, surrender, and service (Exod. 8:1; Matt. 11:28—30; Eph. 2:8—10). “Who gave himself for us, that we might redeem us from all iniquity, and purified unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Tit. 2:14). The Lord wants us to grow in the grace and knowledge of Himself. We are admonished “To be ready to every good work” (Tit. 1:3). To be successful in God's work is to adhere to do His will. “For it is God which works in you both to will and do of his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).
There are too many lily Christian in our churches, they neither toil nor spin. Then, there are the morning glory believers who bloom out on Sunday morning, but fold up to be seen no more the rest of the week. There is no standing still in the Christian life. Moving forward is always in order.
Have you achieved your potential in the Lord? Some potential giants choose to remain ineffective dwarfs in service for Christ. Some with ocean-faring ships' potential, remain bouncing tugboats alone the shoreline. Some with the ability to serve and bless in a thrilling manner, scuttle such potential fuming, fretting, and fussing! Zeroing in on trivia! We are not to be like a mule which is backward about going forward (Psa. 32:9).
Some with Jet-plane power and thrust register no more achievement for God than a wind-tossed Piper-Cub. Some who are still listening ought to be teaching. Some who ought to be ministering are still be ministered to. Some with chandelier ability give out no more light than a flickering candle.
It is true that twenty percent of the people in a church do eighty percent of the work—and that's a sad commentary. Some become discouraged and use ridiculous excuses for not serving the Lord faithfully. “An excuse is a skin of a reason stuffed with a lie.” (John R. Rice) So, there are those who get in a rut which is a grave with both ends knocked out.
God's blessing is found in the place, where He wants us to be. The Apostle Paul wanted his life to count for Christ whether by life or by death, saying, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). Paul viewed death not as a loss, but as a promotion to glory in the plan and purpose of God. The great Apostle also said “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentile; which is Christ in you the hope of glory. Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect (spiritually mature) in Christ Jesus. For this I also labor, striving according to his working which works in me mightily” (Col. 1:27—29).
In the matter of service, the question of who is the greatest always comes up. The Disciples suffered from the this complex. They wanted to know who was the greatest in their grand company. The answer came: “But he that is greatest among you will be your servant” (Matt. 23:11). If we practiced that verse, many of our Church problems would be solved quickly. Let us remember God's way up is down, The path to honor follows the path of humility. In the Lord's book of service, self-abasement does not hinder but helps it.
The Lord wants us to honor Him in service. The Church needs participators, not spectators; agonizers, not agitators. There is certainly a big difference between bellyaching and undertaking.
We read, “But put you on the Lord Jesus, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lust thereof” (Rom. 13:14). “The arm of flesh will fail us; we dare not trust our own.” There are too many shirkers in the Church and not enough workers. There are too many who grab the stool when a piano needs moving Luke 19:13 offers this admonition to him who has ears to hear. “And he called ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.” The word occupy means “to keep busy,” “stay on the job.” Winners never quit; quitters never win. It is better to wear out for God than to rust out for self. Don't just aspire, perspire as well. If you don't trust and obey, you will rot and decay. The Lord would have us to be persistent. The Lord has designed to make us better, not bitter,
Man has worked since God put Adam to work in the Garden of Eden to dress it and keep it. Work is a blessing ordained of God for our good. A Church sign read: “Worry kills more people than work because more people worry than work.” Worry is like a rocking chair; it will give you something to do but, won't get you any place.
While we are not saved by works, Christ's blood motivates us to good works. Let us, then, be faithful because we are saved until the Lord Jesus shall be pleased to take us by His pierced hands of grace and lead us through the gates to glory.
“Blessed is the man that endures temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to them that love him” (Jas. 1:12).
Comments