It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day four in the third week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Strength To the End

“Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.  He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.“
1 Corinthians 1:7-9 (NIV)

Are you good at finishing what you start?  Are you more excited about starting something or finishing it?  Do you ever get tired of serving?  What gives you the strength to keep going?  Have you ever quit something only to find out later that completing it would not have been as difficult as you had imagined?  Has anyone ever given up on you?  Have you given up on someone that you should be serving?  How do you know when your task of serving is over?

I love to hike but sometimes my eagerness to see some great natural beauty causes me to head out on a trail without fully comprehending just how long it is.  There have been times when I became so weary that I turned around before reaching my intended destination.  There have been other times when I would be telling my  hiking companions, “Let’s keep going.  It can’t be much farther now!”  For me there is something special about reaching that intended destination after pressing on when quitting seemed easier.

As you pray, ask God to help you keep the intended finish in mind as you serve.  Pray that you would see your service to others in perspective of God’s bigger picture.

In prayer,

Tom