WELCOME TO GOD’S FAMILY

The Holy Bible tells us that God has a family. In Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus, he lets us know in chapter 3, verse 15, that this family of God is present both on earth and in heaven. God’s family consists of everyone saved as the believers who have gone to be with the Lord. Like it is with families on earth, God’s family is formed of different entities who perform various tasks. In the world, parents go to work to care for the family’s needs. They also train up the children in the right way that they can succeed. The children, on their part, obey their parents and carry out the tasks and errands that are expected of them. Just like everyone in a family has their specific task, everyone in God’s family also has something they should be doing. The Bible lets us know that we must live in obedience to God’s will.

Living according to God’s will means that you are ready to serve Him with all your heart and strength. Jesus Christ taught that whoever hears his Father’s voice and obeys Him is his brother. It means that we must serve and obey him for us to enter into God’s holy family. Serving the Lord requires a heart of love and sacrifice. Jesus Christ himself is our perfect example because he washed his disciples’ feet and explained that it was an act of service. Jesus taught his disciples that no servant is more significant than his master. It means that if Jesus is our master, we have to serve him too. Whenever we see a hungry person, thirsty person, a stranger, a naked man, a sick person, or someone in prison, we should not hesitate to help or serve that person. Because by doing so, we are doing it to Jesus, and we are also serving the Lord.

THE COST OF SERVING THE LORD

One notable person who served was Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. When Jesus visited their home, Mary brought out a pound of ointment of spikenard, which was a very costly ointment. She applied it to the feet of Jesus and used her hair to wipe it. This act of service cost Mary a lot. It is the same way that it would be with you when you are serving the Lord. Service will cost you your money, your time, and even your strength. However, it is great to continue doing it cheerfully despite all this because God records all of your efforts and has a great reward for it.

HOW WE CAN SERVE THE LORD

There are many opportunities for serving the Lord. One major one is through evangelism. When you got saved, you accepted Jesus Christ into your life because someone preached the good news of salvation to you. In the same way that you heard the gospel and got saved, you can also tell others about this good news and get them saved. It is a massive act of service because you are contributing to the expansion of God’s family. We must also know that we have to serve according to our calling. In 1 Corinthians 12, Apostle Paul explained that there are diverse gifts of the Holy Spirit. We all have been given different gifts and callings, but they are all equally important. Paul teaches that the body has other parts – the eyes for seeing, the mouth for speaking – however, they are all equal parts of the body. It is the same way we have different gifts in the body of Christ – some healing, some prophecy, others wisdom – and all of them are according to our Father’s will for our life.

God has a gift, calling, and plan for everyone. He wants you to serve according to the gift you have received. Paul received the gift of prophecy and healing and served by preaching the gospel. Apostle Peter operated in the gift of tongues. He served by guiding the church; Mark used his gift of teaching to write one of the gospels and teach it, and our Lord Jesus, who had all the gifts, was called to save the world. Another opportunity for service lies in working in the church. There are many areas for assistance. They include the choir, the ushering and protocol team, the financial department, the media, and technical department, and even the sanitation and security unit. As a personal act of service, you can also feed the hungry, visit the orphanage home and help financially. Visit the elderly, help with running their errands, or even calling fellow believers to check up on them and their families.

THE REWARDS OF SERVING THE LORD

There are many reasons why you should serve the Lord and do it cheerfully. Joshua chapter 24 verse 15 that as for him and his house, they will serve the Lord. Make a decision today that you will serve the Lord wholeheartedly, and not just you but also your family members. In 1st Timothy chapter 5 verse 18, Apostle Paul tells Timothy that the laborer is worthy of his reward. It means that as servants of God, we are worthy of his goodness and love. Includes long life, good health, prosperity, protection, provision, guidance, and direction in everything we do. Above all, when you serve God, you will walk in wisdom and understanding, and He will also give you the blessing of righteousness, peace, and joy.