Service...It's Not What but Why?

A first blog post by Todd!!

Service…It’s not What but Why? 

Through our journey of adoption, God has really been working on my heart, too.  (Hello all, this is the husband of the outfit speaking)  God has been showing me that it’s not “what” you do to serve Him, but “why” you serve Him that makes the difference. 

Do you ever wonder what purpose you have here on earth?  Do you ever wish you knew God’s will for your life, or do you ever wonder why “the church” is important?  If you are a Christian trying to follow God’s plan, you’ve probably asked yourself these questions.  I have.  Sometimes as believers in Christ we make our lives way too difficult.  We look for the next meeting to attend, the next music ministry to sign up for, the next children’s choir for our children, the next “big thing” to do for God, but we too often forget to look for that next person who needs Christ!  As Christians it is very easy to think we are pleasing God through our actions (and if we’re brutally honest) while at the same time neglecting the people who need Him the most!   

Now, don’t get me wrong, it does take action to follow God’s plan.  It does take doers and not just hearers of the word. After all, we were created to do good works for Christ.  

Ehp. 2:10 states, “For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  

God wants us “to do” for Him.  But what he doesn’t want is empty religious acts of service.  He wants a relationship.  Men, what would happen to your relationship with your wife if you would just sit down only one time a week for roughly an hour and talked, then the rest of the week you did your own thing?  Or, let’s say that you did hang out with your wife throughout the week and you only did the things you wanted to do?  Would that build relationship?  No.  It’s the same with Christ!  We need to spend heartfelt time with Him, to know Him.  

A great missionary friend quoted, “It’s better to soak in one verse, rather than rinse in a chapter.”  Read the scriptures, think on them, look at each word and ask the Lord for understanding.  Think of how you can apply that verse to your daily life and to your thoughts. 

The idea here is that God wants our lives to honor his scars.  He wants us to invest in Him living a life that reflects His power!  So the next meeting you attend, the next music ministry you sign up for, the next children’s service you run, the next communion service you prepare, the next person in need you take care of, or the next orphan you sponsor, don’t do it out of duty, rather provide your service to God as a means of fulfilling the great commission. Serve in a way that will help create disciples of all nations!  That’s what adoption has taught me. 

 I was adopted into His kingdom.  It’s time for my family and I to adopt so we may rise up two Ethiopian children to know the Lord! 

“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 28:10-20

So what is your purpose?  What is God’s plan for you?  The simple answer is fulfilling the Great Commission.  How do you do that?  One of the best and most powerful ways to tell others about Christ is to live your life “not ashamed of the Gospel” as it states in Romans 16:1.  Don’t be ashamed to let the Holy Spirit be an active part of your lifestyle.  Feel good when you are put down, because you stood up for Christ.  It can be done at your work, your home, your church, your street, different states, other countries, and other nations.  Just keep in mind, it’s not “what” you do, it’s “why” you are doing it!  Jesus Christ knows the difference!  Fulfill the Great Commission through your service to God.