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 fourth 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:
Courage To Work

“David also said to Solomon his son, ‘Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.  The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing man skilled in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command.’“
1 Chronicles 28:20-21 (NIV)

Has fear ever kept you from finishing something?  From starting something?  How often are you afraid you won’t be able to finish what you start?  Are there times that the needs of those you serve seem so large that you shrink back from serving?  How much do you rely on those you serve with to help you?  Is it easier to imagine the necessary work getting accomplished when you know you will have help?

Just as “every journey begins with a single step”, every accomplished task begins with the courage to do the work at hand.  Every task of serving requires both courage and work.  Many people fail to serve because they lack courage or the desire to work — or both.  Sometimes we lack courage to do the work of serving because we have incorrectly defined what successful serving looks like.  If so, we need to go back to the first day’s devotion of this week.  When we trust God for His work to be completed, we can have courage to do our work.

As you pray, ask God to help you see clearly the work of service He has for you to do.  Pray that you would have the courage to do the work He created in advance for you to do.  Pray that your work would help people see God’s work in you. 

In prayer,

Tom