WHANM: Serving God

Hope you all got a chance to go to church or some sort of small group tonight. Tonight's Bible study will be kind of short. I've been on the phone and online applying for..you got it..school. That's right, I'm finally going to finish my degree, my Mum is thrilled.

I wanted to just lightly touch on the topic of service..and tonight..why we should serve God. Believe it or not some people don't. They make a profession of faith but just kind of grow stagnant without deepening their relationship with God. Service is part of your relationship with God. Think about it, how do you speak to God? Prayer. How does God speak back? Through His works and..his word. What is his word? The Bible. And what does the Bible say about service to him? Let's have a look:

Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. (Deuteronomy 13:4)

So even early on in the Bible it mentions how we should follow and serve him. To obey his voice, especially when he calls us into service. Then later in Joshua (22:5) we are minded again "love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul." This is actually a great reminder but also a great way to stay true to serving him. Sometimes, at least in the beginning it may seem or feel like you are forcing yourself to do some sort of service. Service to God and others is never bad, but you have to put your heart into it. Don't be a High School Counsellor at church trying to help teenagers with their problems and responsibilities on a Sunday morning when the night before you were doing exactly what you're advising them not to do. Don't be hypocritical in your service. Don't commit to helping with bus ministry if you aren't going to show up. It's important to follow through with service and be open to leaders in your church guiding you to areas of service that need help(hello, God's open window) or ministries you are good at and have God given talents with.

Service is also a sign of your profession of faith, when we profess Christ..we are telling people that we have been changed..we should want to serve him..

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, (which is) your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what (is) that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

This is part of our proof. Remember last week when we talked about leading your testimony? Service to God is one way we can show others that we are legit in our decision to follow him, and that we care about those who have not yet made that choice.

Service to God can be a great tool as well. Ever find it very difficult to resist temptation? I'm pretty sure I just heard everyone cybertronically(if that's a word) shout yes, or at least half smile thinking "Yeah of course". Well, it's a lot easier not to give into some of our strongest temptations when we are serving God. Do you break out alcohol or smoke a joint or a cigarette when you are teaching children's choir or talking to opening doors/being a greeter at church? Or even just cleaning up or helping with Awanas? How about when you're praying with lifting up someone from an addictions meeting? Temptation will always cross our minds, but serving God just helps that temptation to cross..and keep walking. But don't just take my word for it..

(Be) kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another(this part gets so much more easier when you serve God and fellowship with other Christians..it makes resisting temptation so much more realistic); not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;(..) Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.(Romans 12:10,11&13)

Lastly but not the least..a very important part of our service is reaching others. How are people going to know about God if we don't show them God's active role in our lives. If you don't do something to serve your Saviour, you know what most people think, "There isn't anything that they have that I don't." Which is a terrible lie Satan would like everyone to believe. Because someone who does not have Jesus Christ, they have nothing..your service to God could be the smile, handshake, encouragement, clean up, or invite that brings them closer to having something, to have eternal life with Christ our Lord.

God bless you and have a great rest of the week!! Pray about service and ask God to bring some into your life.