A few words on service

I am not going to be original this week. I just want to share something that I’ve heard in church yesterday during the workers’ meeting and which has truly blessed me. I have slightly expounded on what was said.

“If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.” John 12.26

After pointing out the triple occurrence of the word serve/servant in this short verse, one of our pastors highlighted three key points regarding service.

The rule of service: If anyone serves me, he must follow me. This means that there are some who serve without following. These are the ones to whom Jesus will say: “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ [i.e. have we not SERVED in your Name?] And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” Mat. 7:22-23

So, the rule of service is that if we say that we are serving Him, then, we must also follow Him. And how do we follow Him? By obey His Word and commandments; by hearkening to the leading of the Holy Spirit; by imitating His example (love and compassion…); by clinging onto His cause (“…But for this cause came I unto this hour [the hour of Passion]. Father, glorify thy name…” Jn 12:27) etc.

The fellowship of service: Where I am, there will my servant be also. Hence the question: Where is Jesus now? Where is He so that I can be there as well, as his servant? Since Jesus is no longer physically with us, we need to look for a spiritual place. At the time, He was in a place of commitment and consecration. He committed His life and time to a cause. He was also in a place of constant communion and communication with the Father. He was so alert in His spirit that when GOD momentarily turned His face away from Him, on the Cross, He knew immediately. But many of us are seldom aware when GOD turns His face away from us. Are we sure that GOD is with us? And if yes, how do we know He is? Jesus was also in a place of peace and victory. If we truly are His I servants, that’s where we should also be found. A true servant of Christ should not stay in a place of defeat, prayerlessness, anxiety, lack of any sort, powerlessness or confusion.

The reward of service: If anyone serves me, the Father will honour him. Many countries, if not all, have their way of honouring those who have rendered outstanding services to the crown or the nation. Likewise, GOD also has His way of putting His seal of approval on our service. Phil. 2:5-9 tells us that Jesus emptied Himself and took the form of a servant; He humbled himself and obeyed to the point of death; and as a result of this, GOD highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him a name that is above every name. There is something that comes after service. GOD is not unjust so as to overlook our work and the love that we show for His name in serving the saints (Heb. 6:10).

If we serve in this manner and with this mindset, we will not fail to find peace, fulfilment, achievement, success etc. in the place of service.

Have a great week in HIM.