Over the past couple of months God has really put of the topic of being a servant on my heart. Through Bible studies I have been listening to, books I've been reading and every day situations of people serving have been just bombarding me. It is something that has really been convicting but a blessing to me at the same time.
One book I have been reading for the last little while is by Warren Wiersbe and it is called "On Being a Servant of God". If you haven't read this book I would highly recommend reading it. There is so much truth, conviction and bless chopped into one small book. Wiersbe is one of my all time favorite authors. He is a man that really loves the Lord and is not afraid to lay it out there for you. There is one line(well multiple actually but moving on) in that book that really just moved my heart and convicted me. It said, "Those of us who minister must put others ahead of ourselves, but we must put the Lord ahead of others." This really struck me because I see so many people who serve(including myself) who don't follow this everyday. Why is that? Well, it's because we are horrible sinners who are in love with ourselves.
Why can't we strive to do this more often? Why can't we die to ourselves and live for God? The Lord wants all of our lives, not just parts of it. I have come to the realization that if we fully surrender ourselves to God then you cannot imagine the places that God can take us. He wants to use us in so many ways but when we aren't focused on Him l, but on other things then he can't use us to our full capacity.
One line that was a couple chapters later definitely goes along with this and convicted me even more. "Ministry isn't easy, but you make it more difficult for yourself if you serve people instead of the Lord Jesus Christ." We are more concerned with what other people think of us then what God thinks of us. That's why we dress in certain ways, act in certain ways, and live certain lives. Why are we more concerned with people? God is what we should be focused on pleasing. Man will always disappoint us, but God is unchanging his love is so big and ready to receive us yet we look for satisfaction in other places. God wants us to serve Him! He wants us to lead people back to Him, not back to us. We should be people after God's own heart. His heart should be our heart.
Over the past few years God has put me in places to serve and it definitely has it's ups and downs. But let me tell you this, there is absolutely nothing better than serving Jesus. The joy and love that comes out of serving you can't even begin to describe. When you see God moving not only in your life but the people around you, it is a sight to see. So if you have thought about serving before or God has put it on your heart don't hesitate to jump in. You have to be full on for serving God and God alone. Don't let man come in and mess with your head. Remember who you were put on this earth by and who died for you. The least we can do is serve Him after all that he has done for us.
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10
