01.07. Chapter VII - SERVING THE LORD
Chapter VII - SERVING THE LORD When the Lord called Simon and Andrew, He said, "Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fish ers of men" (Mark 1:17). We thus see that the Lord had called them to become workers for Himself and to fish for the souls ofmen. Serving the Lord, being His fishermen, was to be their business now.
Just before the Lord went to the cross, He told His disciples, "The Son of man is as a man taking a far journey who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch" (Mark 13:34). By this the Lord meant that He was going back to heaven and was leaving His interests here in the hands of His own, whom He expects will be His servants and that each one will do his own particular work for his Master while he watches for His return.
After Christ arose from the dead He told the disciples: "As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you" (John 20:21), and "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). He was here in the world as the busy servant of God, going about from early morning till night ministering to needy man. The Father had sent him "not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). And as the Father had sent Him into the world, so He would now send His own into the world to serve Him and needy mankind. From these Scriptures we may rightly gather that serving the Lord is a vital essential of the Christian life and one which every believer is called to in some measure or another. To live for the Lord and to serve Him should be the main business and vocation of the Christian. We are not saved merely to be safe for heaven and at peace down here. The Lord has saved us and left us here in this world to work and to occupy for Himself and to be His witnesses, lights and representatives in this scene where He was cast out and crucified. Our Savior would have us to be His very hands and feet and heart and lips in this world. He wishes us to carry His messages and run errands for Himself, togo about doing good as He did when here below. He would have His love flow forth to poor suffering mankind through our hearts and He would speak to men and women and children by our lives and lips. What a privilege this is! Archangels are not entrusted with such service as is given to us in wondrous grace. May we prize such a privilege and opportunity and be found serving the Lord who has bought us with His own precious blood. May we realize that thus we are not our own but are called to glorify God in our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:20). Of the new converts at Thessalonica it is written that they turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God: and to wait for his Son from heaven" (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10). One of the three great things that characterized them was "labor oflove" for the Lord and serving the living and true God to whom they had turned from their idols. May this also characterize us who today have "turned to God from idols." May it in particular be true of every reader of these lines.
What Shall I do?
Sometimes believers ask the question, "What can I do for the Lord?" and add that they have not much ability, or time, or money to serve the Lord with. In seeking to be of some help on this point, we would first say that it is good to be thus exercised and inquiring of the Lord as to what service one can do for Him. When Saul of Tarsus was arrested by Christ on the Damascus road and brought face to face with Jesus whom he was persecuting, he at once said, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" (Acts 9:6). This is a good question and one which every believer should ask the Lord for himself. The Lord answered Saul’s question directly with explicit directions that led to his being brought in to full deliverance and salvation in Christ and into the knowledge of his particular service for His new found Lord. We then read that "straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God" (Acts 9:20). At once he was busy for His Lord and testifying for Him. As to what one can do for the Lord, it is helpful to read Colossians 3:23-24, which was probably written to those who were menial servants, perhaps slaves: "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord... for ye serve the Lord Christ." Thus we learn that we can do our everyday, commonplace work as unto the Lord and serve Him in it. So whatever is given us to do, we are to do it heartily as to the Lord and glorify Him in it. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might" (Ecclesiastes 9:10), is another helpful and encouraging word for our guidance in the matter of service for the Lord. Of Mary the Lord said, "She hath done what she could" (Mark 14:8). This is all that He expects of each of us. If we have a heart that is willing to serve the Lord and desirous of doing whatever He directs us to do, be it ever so small and commonplace, we will soon find that which we can do in service for Him and precious souls. When Moses made excuses for not doing what the Lord told him to do, God said to him, "What is that in thine hand?" (Exodus 4:2). It was a rod he had in his hand and God used it in mighty power. So the Lord would use what we have, however little it may be, but we must surrender it to Him and He will bless it and give us more as we use it for Himself.
There are a multitude of diversified things which can be done in service for the Lord everywhere. There is something for every believer to do as unto his Lord, something for which he or she is especially fitted as a distinct member of the Body of Christ. Be in commun ion with Him and He will show you what your work is and what you can do, and He will strengthen you for it and use you in blessing to precious souls and for His glory.
" ’Father, where shall I work today?’ And my love flowed warm and free, Then He pointed me out a tiny spot, And said, ’Tend that for me.’
I answered quickly, ’Oh, no, not that.
Why no one would ever see, No matter how well my work was done. Not that little place for me.’ And the word He spoke, it was not stern, He answered me tenderly, ’Ah, little one, search that heart of thine.
Art thou working for them or me?’ The important thing in service for the Lord is not what we are doing, but that we are doing that which He gives us to do for Himself, and that we do it for His eye and not for the eyeof man or for self-praise.
Rewards For our encouragement in the trials and sorrows connected with service for the Lord, He graciously promises toreward us for all that we do for Him. He promises to reward even a cup of cold water given in His name (Mark 9:41), and various crowns will be given to those who serve Him here (see 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 2 Timothy 4:7-8; 1 Peter 5:4; Revelation 2:10). One of the last promises of the Lord is, "Behold, I come quickly; and my re ward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be" (Revelation 22:12). He also will associate the faithful servant with Himself in His kingdom reign. This we learn from Matthew 25:21 : "His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." Precious encouragement indeed! May we be thereby spurred on to more faithful and diligent service for our worthy Lord and Savior in the little while that remains before His coming and thus manifest in our lives this vital essential of the Christian life.