Serving the Lord

Matthew 4:18-20 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew.  They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.  “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”  At once they left their nets and followed him.

Lately I have been in discussions with others about serving the Lord.  It seems more and more people my age have been burdened with a desire to serve the Lord in a ministry.  Then sitting in Sunday school it dawned on me why.

I think that the reason for the burden is that we are beginning to think more about retirement from our jobs and that God is preparing us for that time.  We may retire from our jobs, but we will never retire from serving God.  So, if you are a follower of Christ, are not actively serving, and you have this burden, God is planning to use you for His service.

Like most of us our age, we want things done in our own way.  Most of us are deeply involved in an activity that we are good at and we think that we could use that for a way to serve.

You see Simon and Andrew were fishermen when Jesus recruited them for service.  They did not ask how they could still use their boats or nets to help Him.  No, they retired from that and followed Him.  Does this sound like you?  Is God calling you into His service?

Matthew 4:21-22 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John.  They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets.  Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Again, James and John did not ask to lead the effort in their boat or say, Hey we could use these nets to capture them!  No, they left everything behind, including their father, and followed Him.

An athlete may be born with a strong body, a musician with perfect pitch, or an artist with an eye for perspective.  But none of us can claim an innate spiritual advantage.  In reality, we are all equally disadvantaged.  None of us naturally seeks after God, none is inherently righteous, none instinctively does well. 

Romans 3:9 What shall we conclude then?  Do we have any advantage?  Not at all!  For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.

Therefore, as children of grace, our spiritual discipline is everything — everything!  I repeat . . . discipline is everything!

1 Timothy 4:7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.

So, you think that God is talking to you about working for Him?  You think that you are ill equipped?  All you need is a willing heart, not a willing head.  God will train you for what He wants you to do.

Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Listen to that burden; listen to that desire to work with the Lord.  What an honor, what fun, what a joy, and what a thrill it is to work with the Lord.  But do not suggest to the Lord that you know what He needs, because God has a sense of humor and He is a jealous God.  Again, you just need a willing heart and He will do the rest.

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Sometimes, when dealing with God, it’s just best to report for duty!