Monday, October 7, 2013

By: Gwen Hitt

Serve, Pray, Love

Romans 12:11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

One of my friends has been extremely successful on a new diet. Since I have tried just about every other diet around (LOL), I was very intrigued to learn more!

This diet involves a method of eating in which an individual maintains a balance of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats at every meal and snack. Supposedly, impressive physical and mental benefits will follow.

As I was learning about this eating plan, I began to reflect on a believer's walk with The Lord. I began to imagine what kind of fruit our lives would yield if we would MAINTAIN a focus on service, prayer and our love for Him each and every day. What would happen if we would perform THESE three pillars of our Christian faith...never lacking in zeal as today's verse instructs?

Ephesians 6:7-8 reveals our true purpose "SERVE wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do." God created us to serve Him by serving others WHOLEHEARTEDLY - not just when we feel like doing so.

Similarly, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us that we are to "Rejoice always, PRAY continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." According to this verse, we are not to pray a few times a day....we are expected to pray CONTINUALLY!

Finally, Luke 10:27 instructs us to "...LOVE the Lord your God with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your strength and with ALL your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." Please note that we are to express our love for Him and others in entirety - not just giving Him our leftovers.

Are there any benefits of praying CONTINUALLY, serving God and others WHOLEHEARTEDLY, and demonstrating our love for Him and others in ALL we do? I believe that a focus on these three areas will yield the following: fulfillment of the plans He has for our lives.....obtaining both hope and a future from the Giver of all good things.....enjoying a closer relationship with our loving Father!

My challenge to you is to always strive to be steadfast in praying continually, serving others wholeheartedly as if you were serving Him, and loving Him and others with all of your heart.

Dear Lord, My greatest desire is to serve You with a spiritual fervor that NEVER lacks in zeal. Help me to always fulfill the purposes that You have established for me.

I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.