Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 271 – Philippians 2:17-18 – Faithful Service – Growing As Disciples
But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy. Philippians 2:17-18 (NLT)
Serve Me
Do you want to serve me? Don’t be too quick in answering me. Let me describe what serving me will mean. I’m listening. Serving me will require you to listen attentively to me. That will mean that you will need to meet with me daily to hear from me. You will need to meet with me in my word. You will need to meet with me in prayer. You will need to meet with me in worship. I can understand why meeting with you is a requirement of serving you. Why is that? If I didn’t meet with you, how would I know what you are asking me to do for you? If I didn’t meet with you, how would I ever have the strength and power and ability to do what you ask of me? Without meeting with you, I would be merely guessing what you might want me to do for you. I know from experience that my best guesses have almost always been wrong. Without meeting with you, I would also be operating under my own strength, power, and ability. That effort has and will amount to nothing. I already know that you have said, “Apart from me you can doing nothing”. I am not interested in doing and accomplishing nothing. So, I will gladly meet with you every day so I will be able to know and do your will and accomplish your purposes and plans. That is very good.
Meeting with me is not all that will be required if you want to serve me. You still have my full attention. Serving me will require your sharp focus and very best effort. No casual, half-hearted effort, will ever be able to accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans. I know why that is true. Why is that? Serving you will require me to joyfully and faithfully, pour myself into your work. Serving you will be quite demanding. You will frequently, maybe almost always, ask me to do what is far beyond my own strength, power, and ability. Many times, I will think that you have asked too much of me. Those thoughts will be incorrect. Why is that? You will ask me to do what I cannot do for at least a few reasons. Which are? You want me to come to rely on you to accomplish your work. That’s right. You want me to me to know that is you who has worked in and through me to accomplish your work. Knowing this will encourage and strengthen me and spur me on. That is also correct. Finally, you want others to know that it is you who has accomplished your work in and through me. Then the glory will rightfully go to you and not to me. That is true. Now, I will ask you again. Do you want to serve me? Yes Lord, I want to serve you. I will serve you with all that is within me. That is very good.
Lord, it is my joy to pour myself out in serving you. I will allow you to direct me in using my time and talent and resources to faithfully serve you. Use my life to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. Help me to bear abundant fruit for your kingdom. Amen
Key Question… What joy has been yours as you have engaged in faithfully and sacrificially serving the Lord?
Living It Out… Joyfully and faithfully pour yourself out in sacrificial service to the Lord.
Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will have great joy as you serve the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.
Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group what is the work the Lord has given you to do for Him.
Prayer To Bless Others… May your life be filled with joy as you faithfully serve the Lord.
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