Consecrated For Service Series

Then, Wright says, think how you'd feel if you saw the person you loved best in the entire world, one you hadn't seen for years. What would you do if you saw him or her walking down the street? Why, chase after [that person], of course. That's how you should behave when you think of Jesus and the new life he offers you and the whole world (N.T. Wright, Paul for Everyone: The Pastoral Epistles, Westminster John Knox Press, 2003, page 76; www.PreachingToday.com).

If you want to serve God effectively, chase hard after Jesus, the very best friend you could ever have. Let Him wash you, clothe you, and anoint you with His Spirit. Then commit yourself fully to Him. Dedicate yourself to hearing His Word, doing His work, and walking His way. Then, after you have done all that, go ahead and…

SERVE.

Do the work God puts before you every day. Accomplish the daily tasks God gives you to do.

Exodus 29:38-42 “Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs a year old day by day regularly. One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight. And with the first lamb a tenth measure of fine flour mingled with a fourth of a hin of beaten oil, and a fourth of a hin of wine for a drink offering. The other lamb you shall offer at twilight, and shall offer with it a grain offering and its drink offering, as in the morning, for a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the LORD. It shall be a regular burnt offering throughout your generations at the entrance of the tent of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet with you, to speak to you there (ESV).

This is what God asks the priests to do every day. It is their daily work, which opens the way for God to meet with His people.

Exodus 29:43-46 There I will meet with the people of Israel, and it shall be sanctified by my glory. I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar. Aaron also and his sons I will consecrate to serve me as priests. I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God (ESV).

This is the ultimate goal of any ministry—that people might know their God, who redeemed them from slavery and wants to dwell with them. It seems far beyond any one of us to accomplish. But when we do the daily, mundane work of ministry, God makes it happen. God makes Himself known and He transforms lives for eternity.

Fred Craddock put it this way: “To give my life for Christ appears glorious,” he said. “To pour myself out for others… to pay the ultimate price of martyrdom—I'll do it. I'm ready, Lord, to go out in a blaze of glory.

“We think giving our all to the Lord is like taking a $1,000 bill and laying it on the table—Here's my life, Lord. I'm giving it all.

“But the reality for most of us is that he sends us to the bank and has us cash in the $1,000 for quarters. We go through life putting out 25 cents here and 50 cents there. Listen to the neighbor kid's troubles instead of saying, 'Get lost.' Go to a committee meeting. Give up a cup of water to a shaky old man in a nursing home.