Serve!

Serve!

Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Psalm 100:2 KJV

The 21st century Christian has so many names and titles for the new relationship that has been established with God. We refer to salvation as a free gift, which comes with full access into the presence of God, as well as justification before God. We love the new life, and are proud to tell others about this new life, but there is an emphasis that is mostly missed by many of us, and it is about the import and impact of the decision we have made to follow Christ. 

It is not a decision to be taken lightly, as we did not qualify for the call into the faith as a matter of right, but by grace. If it is indeed grace, there is no room for self-confidence or pride. It is a call that demands a quality of life that aligns with the call that I have received, and that is the secret to the word used in today's extract, which is SERVE. 

All who claim to know and follow Christ are called to SERVE. And there is a right attitude to this service, and it must be done with gladness. If all 'service' to God was done with gladness, today's extract would not be so worded. It means then that there is evidence that some service is done out of a sense of duty or fatalism, where one thinks that no matter what I do or don't do, what will be will be, and so I just work, not because I enjoy it, but just to occupy space and time and to get due recognition. The service that God recognises and blesses is the one done in full understanding of who has called me to hmself, who I am working for, and what I stand to gain at the end of it all. 

If I do an audit of my life right now, can I say of a truth that I serve God out of a heart of appreciation or out of a sense of duty? A heart of true service knows at what altar he is to appear regularly. He knows the true source of strength, inspiration and information. He does not worship at the altar of human applause, approval or acceptance but at the presence of God. The key word here too is COME. 

I really need to understand why I am where I am at this point in time. Why has God bought me at a price, and then placed and planted me where I am now? I believe it is because he wants me to show him off to others; that people come to the saving knowledge of Jesus through my life and all its offerings. When people see the joy and gladness that accompany my service, they will want to know more about the reason for my joy. When I have come into contact with the presence of God, the impact on my life  cannot be hidden or faked. When I have come into His presence to receive guidance and direction for my life, I go into the world to impact it with what I have received. 

Do I know now who I am, or do I really need to sort this out first? Has God met me, have I met God, and do I know what he expects of me? Do I have the heart of a servant or of a master, and can God trust me with the treasures that come from his presence? Do I sing in his presence, glad and joyous about the blessings I have received and the privilege of knowing God, or am I all about what I do not yet have? The invitations still stand: SERVE, COME and SING. All of them flow out of a heart of relationship with God, not a sense of duty. Do I have such a heart? His time of favour is here.