SERVICE

And you shall SERVE the Lord your God, and He shall bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from your midst – Exodus 23:25

SERVICE is the final Kingdom priority in this series. A life of service is the most fulfilling life there is, because we are created to love and serve God. We are also saved to serve! Joshua declared: “…As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh.24:15b). Mother Theresa said: “Unless life is lived for others, it is not worthwhile”! God wants us to use our gifts and talents to promote His Kingdom. Every child of God is a sensitive joint or member in the Body of Christ, equipped with grace to function effectively (Eph.4:4, 7, 16). In fellowship, God services us in order for us to provide effective service in the church and to the world. He fulfils His purposes on earth through our multi-faceted ministries, and “manifold grace” (1 Pet.4:10).

Our real attitude to Christ Jesus is seen by our attitude to His Body, the Church (1Jh.4:20). Certain attitudes hinder or stop a free-flow of the spirit of service: an unwillingness to accept a role that appears to be less important, especially in submission to another; a desire to dominate; an unwillingness to accept discipline or responsibility; and a reluctance to accept menial tasks, seeking only the popular, pleasant and immediately rewarding. The appropriate attitude to service is Humility, which Jesus clearly exemplified. We should never compare ministries or service. God never does. He doesn’t hold one superior to another. He is the one who gives the ministry or service in the first place. All He desires is a usable and faithful vessel! Ministry is simply a “work of service” not necessarily an office or a title!

God is the focus of all true service. He expects always to find fruit on us (Mt.21:19; Jh.15:1-8). But to be useful to God and humanity, ‘Self’ must be relegated to the background, and Christ enthroned in our lives. Service is a master-key to unlocking Gods’ favour and blessing, and other immense rewards of service, which include:

Blessings and Good health (Exo.23:25-26). His blessing guarantees your immunity against the strange diseases Satan is unleashing on the world! “The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it” (Pro.10:22).

Prosperity: “If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures” (Job 36:11). Like the little boy with five loaves and two fishes, you will enjoy divine multiplication as you serve God genuinely (Jh.6:9-13).

Divine Communion and Honour: “If any man serve Me, let him follow Me and where I am, there shall also my servant be, if any man serve Me him will my father honour” (Jh.12:26).

Divine Protection: God spares the sons who serve Him (Mal.3:17). Mordecai, the Jew, was delivered from Haman’s plot because he served the king faithfully; and sincere service is always recorded (Est.2:21-23; 6:1-3). No service is rendered in vain. You will not serve God in vain. You cannot serve Him and lose: “…your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1Cor.15:58).

Distinction: “They shall be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him” (Mal.3:17). Distinction is supernaturally linked to service that adds value.

God is perfecting His jewels who serve Him unreservedly, with gladness (Dt.28:47-48; Psa.100:20); willing and perfect hearts (1Chr.28:9); and, continually (Dan.6:16). Make up your mind to serve Him with all of your time, talents, and treasures! You are saved to serve; serviced to offer faithful service. You cannot occupy space for nothing (Lk.13:6-9). God has issued a Call to Service. How have you responded to it? Someone said: “If you are dissatisfied with your lot in life, build a Service Station on it”! One key service that we all are called into is to be Christ’s Witnesses (Acts 1:8). This is our next station!