Saturday, March 15, 2008

Choosing Whom to Serve

"All these curses will come upon you. They will pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the LORD your God and observe the commands and decrees he gave you… Because you did not serve the LORD your God joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity, therefore in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and dire poverty, you will serve the enemies the LORD sends against you." —Deuteronomy 28:45-48

This Scripture struck me hard this morning. A sobering reminder that we will serve someone in this life—there is no neutral ground. If it is not the Lord, it will be our enemy.

"Choose this day whom you will serve!" (Joshua 24:15)

I was also drawn to Galatians:

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows... The one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." —Galatians 6:7-10

What a perfect companion to the Deuteronomy passage! We will reap what we sow when we choose whom we serve. Do I sow in obedience, or do I sow in selfishness? Do I serve God joyfully, or only when it’s convenient?

Lord, I thank You that You first loved me and have drawn me to You. Without You, I would be lost. You have made me to love You and given me the desire to serve You. I am nothing without You.

I am Your servant, Lord—help me to serve You with my whole heart, mind, body, and spirit.

Amen.