The writer of Hebrews makes a powerful statement about how to respond to His amazing love, power and grace. It boils down to serving God from a heart of gratefulness. It’s about being in awe of God’s awesomeness as our Creator. It shows God we appreciate and value His unlimited power, His greatness, His steadfast love. This brings us to honor Him in humility and the fear of the Lord.
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” (Hebrews 12:25)
Jesus shows us manifold dimensions of His love towards us. He likewise leaves us with an imperative, “that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
Paul interpreted and applied the kind of serving in love that exemplifies and expresses in a nutshell the reality of serving God from a kingdom perspective:
“the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.” (Romans 14:17-18)
So, what does serving Christ “in these things” imply? What does serving God and people from God’s perspective “in righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” look like?
Serve God from the heart: “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24)
Serve God sacrificially in the Spirit: “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28) “having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit” (Romans 7:6)
Serve God freely and faithfully: For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13) “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. (Matthew 25:21)
Serve God from a heart of pure worship and way of life, in Him: “you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9)
REFLECT – RELATE – RESPOND
Meditate on the scriptures cited. In what ways can you apply these scriptures in simple ways and serve God right where you are?
Who has God put within your midst to serve with the gifts He has already given you?