Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
If you’re not serving, you’re not living
Wow – How could I ever begin this week’s devotional without mentioning what God is doing at the RIDGE Church. If you we’re unable to be with us yesterday, you missed the most monumental announcement this ministry has ever seen. This was one of those things that we look back on years from now and see why we are where we are … Great and Exciting things are happening, make sure you don’t miss it! If you were not with us and would like a DVD please call the church office, the ones from yesterday flew out of here, so we will need to make you a copy.
For those of you that sat in this incredible groundbreaking service …. GET READY! You are going to be used in a Great and Mightily Way for the Kingdom of God! And that is where I want to begin with this devotional. In all the excitement that is happening here it is important not to miss why these opportunities are so incredible and important for you to be involved in. So here it is something to think about this week …
Simply one day you will be asked how much you did with your life for others. The Bible calls it “Give account” Romans 14:12, “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.” (NIV) At the end of your life on earth you will stand before God, and he is going to evaluate how well you served others with your life. Think about the implications of that. One day God will compare how much time and energy we spent on ourselves compared with what we invested in serving others.
At that point, all our excuses for self-centeredness will sound hollow: “Uh! But God I was too busy” or “I had my own goals” or “I was preoccupied with working, having fun, or preparing for retirement. And after all of that I was too tired. I needed to rest, a little leisure time. Needed a little time to get away you know for myself.” To all excuses God will respond, “Oh I know, you’re exactly right you spent a lot of time getting away for yourself and none for other people … Sorry, wrong answer. I created, saved, and called you and commanded you to live a life of service. Ephesians 4:11-12, “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service …” (NIV)
Now of course everyone at the RIDGE knows this really really well because we are all striving to “LIVE” as fully devoted followers of Christ. We are only fully alive when we’re helping others. Jesus said, “If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live” (Mark 8:35 LB; see also Matthew 10:39; 16:25; Luke 9:24; 17:33). This truth is so important that it is repeated five times in the Gospels.
Fact is this: If you aren’t serving others you’re just existing because life is meant for ministry (Service). God wants you to learn to love and serve others unselfishly. And He is handing us opportunities to be able to impact lives, and change the world. How much more important is it that we join the movement?
