A Decision Only You Can Make


Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.  Colossians 3:23-24

Paul’s words in these verses are so practical we may gloss over their radical nature. Serving Christ isn’t just about obvious spiritual matters. There is no corner of our lives empty of opportunities to serve Him, no matter how menial or seemingly inconsequential the task He places before us.

In fact, other than your decision to believe in Jesus Christ, the choice to serve Him will be more formative in your spiritual life than any other decision.

Consider the way we’re to work. The word heartily doesn’t mean frantically. It refers to an all-in attitude. It also anticipates the joy we can experience when we discover God has actually wired and gifted us for certain tasks we can do wholeheartedly for Him.

And the commitment to serve heartily requires you to be in God’s Word. You cannot afford to wander away for days or weeks. Time in Scripture is like a briefing for the days’ activities in the place the Lord has called you.

Serving Christ also tethers your heart to the Cross. People are counting on you to be a faithful servant, whether they realize it or not. You have an awe-inspiring privilege to work in Christ’s kingdom. If you open your heart to this, you will begin to see an incredible array of service opportunities set before you each day.

As you begin to take steps of service, you will quickly find it isn’t a lighthearted and carefree parade. There will be times of intense joy, deep camaraderie, and great fun—but also times when fatigue and discouragement are part of the experience. Humbling yourself and serving is tough, and it’s easy to want to throw in the towel when things don’t go as planned.

Colossians 3:24 is key, “You are serving the Lord Christ.” Especially when we get discouraged, we can rest in the truth that our lives and what we do aren’t about us, they’re about serving the Lord.

Now some will consider this choice to serve but do nothing. They’ll feel the tug of possibility, the longing that could lead to great things, but think, Not for me, that sounds too much like work. What a tragic waste of opportunity. Don’t be like that.

Do you want a life guided by the Lord, encouraged by His blessings, and marked by a sense of purpose? Choose to serve. If you ask anyone fully engaged in ministry for their story, you will find this connection is true: “If you want to be great, Jesus said, you must be the servant of all” (Matthew 20:26 NKJV). The life you were designed to experience begins with the decision only you can make: I choose to serve Jesus Christ.

Journal

  • Where are you heartily serving Christ right now?
  • What have you found are the benefits of serving Christ?

Pray   

Lord, I can hardly think about service without visualizing Your Son washing the filth from His disciples’ feet. The work itself was service, but the deeper service was in the unexpected choice. Jesus saw and was willing to do what others were ignoring or oblivious to. Lord, help me become the kind of person who can step into a situation and see where genuine service can be engaged in heartily without even being noticed. Continue to teach me to serve as unto You alone, Lord. In Your Son’s name, the ultimate servant, amen.