SUB-THEME: PRINCIPLES OF UNLIMITED ADVANCEMENT AND ALL-ROUND FRUITFULNESS
TOPIC: LIVE A LIFE OF SERVICE UNTO GOD AND HUMANITY
TEXTS: Exodus 23:25; Luke 1:8–13
Introduction:
Believers in Jesus Christ are called to a life of service to God and humanity. Those who ernestly commit themselves to this call will surely experience a life of unlimited advancement and all-round fruitfulness.
The implication of this call is that every believer should see himself or herself as a servant and actually act it out on a daily basis, following the example of Jesus, who Himself said, "I am among you as one who serves" (Luke 22:27). And in John 13:13–16, He further declared, after washing His disciples' feet, "I have set an example for you so that you would do what I have done for you.".
And so, in the manner of Jesus, we are to live a life of service. But before anyone begins to serve, he or she must first yield his or her life completely to God and prayerfully develop a servant spirit/heart.
A true servant cheerfully ministers, serves, runs errands, and attends to or waits on others like a waiter at a meal.
Two Bible characters, Joshua and Pheobe, were strongly mentioned for their hearts of faithful service to God and His people (Joshua 24: 23,31; Rom.16:1,2).
We can serve God and humanity in a number of ways, such as:
* regularly proclaiming the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and harvesting ripe souls into the kingdom of God (2 Timothy 4:2);
* toiling and labouring in the place of prayer for others, the church, and the nation (Col. 4:12);
* extending hospitality to and contributing voluntarily towards the comfort of our ministers in the manner of the Shunamite woman to Prophet Elisha (2 Kings 4:8–10) and the women who ministered unto Jesus of their substance (Luke 8:2,3);
* reaching out to the shut-ins (aged, sick at homes/hospitals, correctional/remand homes), as well as the destitute, orphaned/street children, and all others going through various shades of adversity;
* identifying or inquiring about other ministries and needs of the Diocese/local Church and responding to them as the Lord directs and enables us.
We serve Christ when we serve His church and other people in need (Matt. 25:40; Prov. 31:20).
In doing these and many more, we personify the love of God for humanity.
God commanded the Israelites in the wilderness to serve Him with the promise of blessing their bread and water and taking away sickness from their midst...(Exodus 23: 25,26).
In every age, including ours, God remains faithful in fulfilling this promise. The priest, Zacharias, and his wife, Elisabeth, lived a blameless life and kept on serving the Lord faithfully in their day despite not having a child. God heard their prayers and, at the fullness of time, gave them that much-desired child, John the Baptist (Luke 1:8–13). This agrees with King Solomon's words: "Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days"(Eccl.11:1).
God is still in the business of rewarding those who faithfully serve Him. He will also reward you if, from TODAY, you step forward and start serving!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, give me a heart like the heart of Jesus, a heart more ready to serve than be served.
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