Time With Christ: 18 February 2015 Wednesday Daily Devotion - Worthy Service

Topic: Worthy Service (Wednesday, February 18, 2015)

Memorize: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. - Romans 12:1

Read: (1 Samuel 15:22-23 KJV)

22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

MESSAGE:
Service is work done for the benefit of other people or as a form of worship of God. Service characterised the essence of the ministry of Jesus and it is at the core of discipleship. Service means to work, to labour or to minister. According to our memory verse for today, service must meet certain conditions in order to be considered worthy and acceptable to God. First of all, mere correct religions observance is inadequate; rather, a wholehearted commitment to God in total submission and obedience is required. It is in this regard that Deuteronomy 10:12-13 says,

“And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God requires of thee, but to fear the LORD they God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?”

Furthermore, Amos 5:22-24 tells us that except service is rendered in holiness and righteousness, our persons, prayers, expensive offerings, noise of songs and the melody of musical instruments would mean nothing of God.

Secondly, total compliance with instructions in the word of God is required in service. In the case of Saul in 1 Samuel 15:22-23, because of his half or partial obedience, God labelled him with rebellion and witchcraft. It was recorded against him that he rejected the word of the Lord, and he was punished for it. May you never incur the wrath of God in Jesus’ Name. The Almighty God will find your service worthy and acceptable in His sight in Jesus’ Name.

Service to God must come from a willing heart, with gladness, reverence and godly fear (Hebrews 12:28). The Lord is the Alpha and Omega, the Bishop of our soul, our Maker, Saviour, and Redeemer. We owe Him our lives. There is nothing we can offer in service to God that will be too much. Service to God is highly rewarding; offer Him quality service today.

“Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” - Psalm 100:2-3

Prayer Point: Father, help me to identify and take care of a need in your kingdom in Jesus’ Name.

Bible in one year: Lamentations 3-5, and Acts 28:11-31