My service: answering God's call

When you encounter opportunities to serve God, how do you respond? Let me list some of the wrong reactions:


1) I can’t.

2) My schedule is too busy.

3) I don’t know how.

4) I’m just a layperson, not a pastor.

Those knee-jerk reactions slam closed a door before we’ve discovered whether or not the Lord wants us to go through it. You’ve probably never thought of a refusal to serve God as idolatry, but that’s what it is—bowing down to self instead of submitting to Him.

The Lord desires that His servants first be willing to do anything and then seek His specific plan for them. He uniquely gifts followers to serve according to His will. But when we’ve already decided what we can’t do, won’t do, or are ill-equipped to do, then we’re acting by our own will. That isn’t going to work.

You may serve the Lord as a godly parent, as a factory worker who shares the gospel with coworkers, or as a friend who listens to those who are hurting. There is no restriction on what God can do with a willing helper. The strength of His Spirit overcomes human limitations. Don’t have enough courage? God can fix that. Don’t have the right skills? God can fix that.

Laying down our excuses is the wisest thing we can do to serve the Lord. Trust that He will empower you to do whatever He calls you to do—and will see to it that you are properly equipped and trained (Eph. 2:10; 2 Tim. 2:20; 3:16-17). All He asks of you is that you say yes.

Copyright 2010 In Touch Ministries, Inc. All rights reserved. www.intouch.org. In Touch grants permission to print for personal use only.

*Before reading any further, stop and let the message above soak in*

I learned early in my Christian life to never give God any of the excuses listed at the beginning of the message because he will show you otherwise. Something else that I learned early on was the gift he had bestowed upon me and that was service to others . . . something that I've done willingly as a firefighter, EMT, and now as a Disaster Assessment Specialist for the Red Cross. Along the way - when I wasn't busy with something else - I've also found time to serve others as a Sunday School teacher and an Amateur Radio operator. Was it easy? No, but then, nothing worth doing ever is! Did I ever consider myself ill equipped for the job? Yes, and that's when I prayed and then went on about God's business.

The point I'm trying to make is, next time God asks you to do something, remember Phillipians 4:13 which says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," and answer with an enthusiastic "Yes Lord, send me!"

Until next time . . .