Devote Yourself To God's Unfailing Leadership

Even now with the arrival of a new preacher—especially with the arrival of this dude (me!), NOW IS THE TIME FOR US:

• Explore ways to serve, if you are not already.

o Maybe you might find yourself agreeing with this boy, who one day announced to his mom: “Mom, I have decided to be a minister when I grow up.” “that’s okay with me, but what made you decide that?” “Well,” said the boy, “ I have to go to church anyway, and I figure it would be more fun to stand up and yell than to sit an listen.

• Take yourself in for a “service check”

o Are you serving where you are gifted?

o Are you overextending yourself and thereby reducing your “service life?”

o Are there areas you need to God to refresh you in so that your service can be more effective? (family or marriage issues, spiritual health—quiet time with God, for eg.)

• Ask: What DOES God want to do with our church? Pray that he will unify us under his vision—his plan for how our church is to serve him

• With a little bit of trial and error, wisdom and direction, you can find a place in our church where you can serve your King with Joy, and see the fruit that comes from willing obedience to His plan and desire.

Transition: if you find yourself struggling to fear the Lord with reverence, or finding it difficult to obey and serve, it might be helpful to take our last step to keeping our devotion alive:

V. Consider the Lord’s blessings—devoted servants are motivated by the blessings from their King

24 But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.

Samuel spent time recounting how the Lord had helped them time and again, throughout several centuries.

Remembering our blessings gets us out of a dull complacency and a tendency to focus on the negative.

What might Samuel recount for us?

The Holy Bible, New International Version. Pradis CD-ROM:Col 1:21.

Col 1:21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of 6 your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation

The Holy Bible, New International Version. Pradis CD-ROM:Col 3:13.

13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

The Holy Bible, New International Version. Pradis CD-ROM:Gal 3:26.

Gal 3:26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

The Holy Bible, New International Version. Pradis CD-ROM:Ro 8:1.

Ro 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

The Holy Bible, New International Version. Pradis CD-ROM:Ro 8:31.

Ro 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?