Pastor's Corner: Why we serve
Read Romans 12.
Over the years many have heard how to serve. This could be Spiritual Gifts or how we carry out our service to Christ and Church Family. Have we ever thought of, “Why we serve?” We know the workers are few, but the harvest is plentiful, so this could provide a reason. When it comes to answering this question, are there other reasons that drive deep thought, that reaches a deeper place in the heart, mind, soul and strength.
The first step is paramount to rid of the wrong reasons and motivations. As we grow up it is instilled within to do good leads to reward. This leads to self-pride, then leads to boasting, over-lording and burnout. How does burnout occur? Self-pride becomes tiresome, we tend to look for the next big thing that can provide recognition. When we have been rewarded or placed upon a pedestal for so long, we want to find something else that can be recognized, something new. It creates a cycle, a wheel that can actually affect long term commitment especially in the place of serving. What direction should we find reason and motivation?
In Romans 12, two words Paul states are Mercy and Transformation. These two words become the basis for a desire shift in our lives of unending hope, peace, joy and love. Paul spells out through Romans 12 the carrying out of transformation.
Let’s look at three areas. The first is redemption, the joy of our salvation that resides, do we find desire through it. Thinking of the Roman Road of salvation it is determined that no work and no leading of a good life leads to salvation, a price has already been paid, one in which we do not have capability of paying ourselves. On the Roman Road we find all have sinned, all fall short the glory of God. The wage of sin is death. It is not physical death; it is an eternal separation from God. Our redemption is found in Christ, who has paid the price. God so loved the world He sent His only begotten Son, that whoever shall believe in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. When we really understand redemption, mercy, and forgiveness a true desire occurs to serve beyond anything that can be gained from self. We serve in thankfulness to God.
The second reason is God created, “you.” There is no other like you, we share common gifts, but how those are carried out, have you ever noticed that each person is different. This is all built around the purpose God has created you for. When we look at gifts given to each of us, we find desire to use those to serve God. God blesses and gives strength to carry on.
The third area is that God is fulfilling a continued promise. One day Christ is returning, all the world in its exhaustion, division, sin, the list goes on, will be no more. The second part is we find within the promise that God’s truth will be given throughout all the world. We are given commission to reach our local area and beyond seeking out those who do not know who God is. When you serve, you may not be the specific one to reach out, but your service may be what is needed for those who have been given the gift to do so. Each person coming to Christ, is another step closer to the mission complete. If you notice each of the above does not concentrate on self, they all concentrate first on God, then on others, we find transformation and service that leads to good and proper worship God calls us to. Let us begin to serve with transformation occurring in our lives, Amen.
Matt Reisinger is pastor of the Cheboygan Community Wesleyan Church.
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Pastor's Corner: Why we serve
