In this session, we are going to be discussing service.
What does service mean? Basically it translates to helping someone or doing work or something for someone. Sometimes for a particular purpose.
How does the bible want us to serve God? Psalm 100:2 says we should serve the Lord with gladness (joy) and enter his presence with songs of Joy. So God wants us to be glad and joyful when we come to him or when we are in his presence. He is a loving father who loves us and delights in us. He wants us to be filled with joy when we are with him. It could be in our quiet time with him, whenever we are communing or just talking with him (fellowship).
God does not want us to serve him out of compulsion. In Joshua 24:15, God spoke through Joshua and to the chosen ones (in modern day context, us) that if it was undesirable to serve God, then we can choose whom we will serve. As human beings, we are not the master of our lives, we are made by God to serve him, to know him, to be in fellowship with him when we surrender our lives to him through his son Jesus. But when we do not do that then we automatically serve God’s enemy, Satan the deceiver. Who takes advantage of our humanity and makes us serve him using our desires for evil so that we are drawn away from God.
Serving God is not by our strength but by the power of the Holy spirit God supplies us with so we can bring glory to his name.
How do we serve God?
We serve God with the help of the Holy spirit by the way we live so we can set a good example 1 Timothy 4:12. Bear in mind that even as believers we are not perfect because we are in the flesh but by faith we can develop a good relationship with God. By regular fellowship with him and other believers, thanking God, praying and seeking his face we can develop our walk with him so that our faith and confidence in him to live an exemplary life that will honor him and prove a life of service to him.
We serve God by serving people in our community. Romans 12:1 urges us to offer our lives (surrender our lives in service to God ) as a living sacrifice for the sake of others. Our attitude is a form of service to God. According to Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 4:16 and Philippians 2:3 in the face of a harsh world where we are tempted to preserve and look out only for ourselves, the Bible encourages us to be renewed in our minds and be humble with the help of the Holy spirit so we can serve others too.
We also serve God with what we have, our substance by giving to others who are in need, Acts 20: 35. Helping people who are weak and in need of our help is a sacrifice (service) that pleases the Lord. Not with the expectation of getting back but with the joy of the Lord. It could be sharing your meal with someone, giving someone money when they need it, giving to less fortunate or privileged such as widows and orphans and helping out when the need arises. Such sacrifice pleases and honors God 1 Peter 4: 10-11.
How does our serving glorify God?
God’s power is seen in the lives of those who trade selfishness for selflessness and kindness. When we serve mankind, we are serving directly on behalf of God because he endues us with the ability and strength and he receives the glory. There are many ways we can do this from giving a simple smile, evangelizing, praying, being a mentor, partaking in church activities, using your gifts, donating what we do not use, teaching and being a source of comfort to grieving people or just being kind and nice to people around you.
I hope you feel inspired to serve someone today xoxo