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 five 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 and Leave Sin

“Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’  ‘No one, sir,’ she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’“
John 8:10-11 (NIV)

What is your favorite sin?  Are you shocked that I would ask such a question?  Are there things that God calls sin that you have renamed and allowed to remain in your life?  How does dragging sinful behavior along with you affect your ability to serve others?  When Paul writes about the “sin that so easily entangles”, is there a particular thought or action that comes to your mind?  What does it take to completely leave sin behind as you serve in the name of Christ?

For many Christians, sin is the thing others do.  We’re Christians so we compartmentalize and justify our pride, lust, greed, envy, jealousy, anger, hatred, etc. and choose labels for them that are anything but sin.  God want us to go and leave all of that sin behind because it separates us from Him and is a hindrance to our serving effectively in His Name.  God say that when we have been buried with Christ, we have put to death the sin the reigns in our body and it no longer is our master.  With Christ as our master, we can call sin out for what it is and completely leave it as we serve others.

As you pray, ask God to help you identify all traces of sin that you need to leave behind as you serve others in love.

In prayer,

Tom