Service Clarity

Luke 2: ³⁶ Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; ³⁷ and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. ³⁸ And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

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“Would you serve on this committee?” someone asked. “Yes, of course” was my answer. “Would you serve as a lead” “Yes, of course” I said. “Would you run a special project, help with the books, lead another group and teach?” “Um… yes?” I said.

• There were times when I got burned out because I could not say not to the church leaders.
• There were times when I got burned out because I thought I “had” to serve.
• There were times when I felt I must be closer to the LORD because I was working so hard.

Anna was a prophetess who was dedicated to the LORD. She served the LORD in a way that was different from most thinking. She fasted, prayed and told people about JESUS becoming a human to redeem the world. Her service was easily done.

• GOD wants me to serve HIM.
• GOD wants me to fast, pray and tell people about HIM.
• GOD wants me to not burn out rather serve HIM with my current gifts, talents and financial situation.

“MY yoke is easy and MY burden is light stands out to me, yet many people in the church are worn out because the leaders are hard task masters. GOD never said “Work your fingers to the bone” nor did HE say “Try harder.” GOD says “I made you just as you are and I AM pleased with you, just speak of MY SON, fast and pray.” My service is simplified this day.

• Are you worried that you are not pleasing GOD?
• Do you think you are not doing enough because someone judged you into guilt?
• Can you stop trying to please GOD so hard as the task masters dictate and just be who HE made you to be?

Simple Things

Matthew 25: ³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

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After minutes of belief in CHRIST, I ran into a snag. “LORD what do YOU want me to do?” was my question. Years later, after walking away and returning to serving, I thought things would be easier, but they weren’t. “LORD what do YOU want me to do?” was my cry again.

After serving the rich, powerful and aloof, I decided to follow GOD a little more and was let go. “For real LORD, what do YOU want me to do?”

• Sometimes I question GOD because I am not getting my way.
• Sometimes I question GOD because I thought things would be easier when I chose HIM.
• Sometimes I question GOD because I expect good things to happen and then something bad hits me in the face.

“What do YOU want me to do?” was more of a complaint versus a question. I could have really said “What do YOU want me to do NOW?” as if to say, I am tired of not getting my way. Sometimes I work really hard to please GOD when HE wants the simple things.

• I feed JESUS when I feed those who are hungry and outcast.
• I quench JESUS’s thirst when I give those who are thirsty a nice drink.
• I provide JESUS shelter when I invite people into my home and give them clothes.

JESUS gives me instructions for how to live. It is the simple things that please HIM. I don’t have to be wealthy or smart or accepted by those in power to serve JESUS. I don’t have to coerce or trick people, I just simply have to serve people because JESUS wants me to. It is the simple things that please GOD.

• Do you think you have to work hard to please GOD?
• Are you tired of not getting your way?
• Can you stop trying so hard to get your way and do something simple by serving someone today?