6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers;
but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7 With
good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: 8 Knowing
that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive
of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. –Ephesians 6:6-8 (KJV)
Countless people serve the Lord in all sorts
of ways and their only compensation is the satisfaction derived from
giving of themselves. We typically think in terms of being paid
for services rendered, yet we do a variety of tasks in service to God for
the sake of being faithful. There are people who volunteer their
time helping with children, serving meals, visiting the sick, assisting
the elderly, and participating in the overall ministries of the church.
Even those being compensated such as pastors, music ministers, youth
ministers, and administrative capacities also give of themselves in
a variety of ways that go beyond their ministries to the church.
I share this because reaching out in Jesus’ name, regardless of the
task, carries with it tremendous blessings.
I have mentioned in this blog how easy it
is to become sorrowful during these dreary and cold winter months.
A wonderful way to combat the winter blues is to get out and give of
ourselves in service to others. Paul the Apostle reminded the
believers in his letter to the Ephesians that whatever good we do in
service to others we will receive back from the Lord. Giving of
ourselves in service to others lifts our spirits during the winter months
and also the entire year round. Life can be draining and exhausting,
and yet when we give of ourselves in service to the Lord we are spiritually
energized in the process. The temptation is to withdraw from others,
and there is certainly a time for this as we all need proper rest.
However, getting out among people who need the light of Christ shined
into their lives is a wonderful pursuit.
The happiest and most contented people I
know are also the most connected. Conversely, the most unhappy
and discontented people I know are those who have shut themselves off
from others. I often visit shit-ins who because of physical limitations
are rarely able to leave their homes. Often times I find such
persons up, sometimes even brightly dressed, the curtains drawn back
to let in the sunlight, and enjoying their lives as best as they can.
They are truly making the most of a difficult situation.
What about you today? Are you struggling
with the temptation to lock yourself away from others and languish in
the hopeless feelings which may be overwhelming you? A personal
relationship with Jesus Christ is about getting out and shining His
light to a lost and hurting world. Doing so blesses us and also
blesses those to whom we minister. Regardless of whether you are
an introvert and an extrovert you can, by the power of Christ, rise
up and meet the challenges of the day.
Do not withdraw and give up. Christ
calls us to go forth and reach out to others. The effect is energizing
on many levels – spiritually, mentally, physically, and psychologically.
God will provide the strength and motivation. Rise up and walk
forward in His strength.
God bless you today.
