The writer Annie Dillard once wrote, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” Each day when we make breakfast for a child, help a coworker with a mundane task, or complete an assignment for school, we are experiencing life with God in service to one another. These moments of service and care give us an opportunity to grow closer to God.
Serving is a form of worship. Worship is showing or displaying the worth of God. When we serve one another we give glory to God and demonstrate the reality that each person we encounter is holy.
Tip 67: Work is Our Service.
Paul in Hebrews connects service with the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for each one of us. Paul implores us as Jesus’ disciples to continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise that can come from two forms.
The first type of service we can give God is familiar to us from our time in worship, prayer and devotion. Paul says, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” (Hebrews 13:15)
We praise God with our words through song, sharing prayers from our hearts and scripture, and professing the name of Jesus.
In addition to words of praise, Paul lifts up acts of service as sacrifice that is pleasing to God. When we work we serve others in ways big and small, directly and indirectly. We are reminded that to live in community with God and others requires acts of service that are pleasing to God. Paul writes, “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (Hebrews 13:16).”
Doing good and sharing with others is work, but it is work in service to the Lord and pleases him. Work is our service that is an act of praise, flowing out of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. We joyfully serve because God first served us and continues to provide for us each day. When we spend our days intentionally working in ways that serve others we build a life of service that pleases the Lord.
Please send me your questions, challenges, and suggestions as we continue in the 90-Day Goal Together. I look forward to hearing from you and sharing the journey with you.
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