Hello and Happy Monday! Today, we conclude our series on Becoming Like Christ Through the Spiritual Disciplines. I have enjoyed sharing this series with you and I pray that it has been fruitful in your walk with Jesus Christ. As we wrap up this series, we will finish with the Spiritual Discipline of Service. Let’s dive in…
In his book, Spiritual Disciplines for the Godly Life, Donald Whitney uses the analogy of comparing the Spiritual Discipline of Service to that of The Pony Express. The Pony Express carried mail by horseback riders from April 3, 1860 – November 18, 1861. During that short span, this was anything but an easy job. Riders had a to deal with long, hard rides, they had to be ready for Indian attacks and riders had to be ready to cover seventy-five to hundred miles a day… on horseback. In order to recruit riders for this hazardous job, Bolivar Roberts posted this ad, “Wanted- young, skinny, wiry fellows not over 18. Must be expert riders willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred.” Sounds like a great job description, right? Well, as crazy as this job description may sound to us, The Pony Express never experienced a a shortage of riders.
Well, on one level, the same commitment should be the desire of every Christian. Serving God is not for those who are just casually interested. Just like the riders for The Pony Express, serving God is costly service. God asks for your life and for your service to Him to be your top priority. It’s not a short-term commitment like The Pony Express. Too many times people have the idea that Christianity is strictly a personal and private “religion”. That it is only about me and Jesus. But that cannot be further from the truth. As a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, I am called to put Him first in all things, to go and share the good news and make disciples of every nation.
Paul urges us in Romans 12:11, “Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit, serve the Lord.”
Ephesians 2:8-10, “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift – not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” God has given us new life in order that we might “do good works”.
Hebrews 9:14, “how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works, so that we can serve the living God?”
Romans 12:1, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.”
In view of God’s mercies, our only right response is to offer our entire lives to the Lord. When I think about these things, I am reminded of Dietrich Bonheffer’s quote from The Cost of Discipleship. He says, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” “Such a call to serve Christ summons up images of legendary martyrs, fearless in the face of persecution, or of triumphant death after a lifetime of planting the flag of the gospel among unreached people.” Donal Whitney
Is there anything that we are holding back from serving God wholeheartedly?
How am I using my time, energy, money, opportunities, relationships, abilities and talents?
Can I say today, that I am truly offering my life as a living sacrifice for His glory and His service?
Think about the church you attend, where is an area that you can go and willingly serve the Lord this week?
Thank you for joining me during this study on Becoming Like Christ Through the Spiritual Disciplines. I pray that it has been fruitful and rewarding for you. But more importantly, I pray that God has used this study to draw you closer to Him, deepens your walk with Him and motivated you to go and share the good news of Jesus Christ.
Have a blessed week and see you next week.
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