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 one in the final 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:
Go Because of God’s Command

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’“
Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

Do you like to go places?  How do you decide where to go?  Has there ever been a time in your life when someone in authority would set your schedule and tell you where you had to be and when you had to be there?  Did you like it?  Did you do it?  Why?  What do you think would happen if you took a job delivering pizza but would only go to the addresses that you were familiar with?  Would your boss be okay with that, or would he expect you to go everywhere he tells you?

As Jesus was finishing His ministry on earth, He commands those who would follow Him to go and make disciples.  Some say the emphasis in the command is on going and others claim it is on making disciples.  I’m not convinced Jesus had any intention for us to separate the two parts of the command.  The idea is that those needing to be discipled aren’t usually going to come to you as you sit by and wait — you must be actively involved in living the gospel of Jesus and taking it with you everywhere you go.

As you pray, ask God to fill you with the courage to go when He commands.  Pray that your obedience to His command would involve you in the act of serving everywhere you go.

In prayer,

Tom