In our world today we are faced with so many choices in life. What job should I take? Where should I live? What should I eat for lunch today? The choices seem endless. Some decisions seem pretty minor like what socks should I wear today? Other decisions can be quite major like whom should I marry? But there is only one decision we make in life that has eternal implications; and that is which God should I serve?
Most people serve the god of self. Their activities are centered around making money, buying a bigger car, and getting more pleasure out of life. In this scenario we place ourselves as the central figure in the universe and this point in time as the most important in all eternity.
For these people peace of mind, joy, and true meaning never seem to be found. Instead, they find when they look back on their lives in old age, only memories of what could have been. And, when they look forward only a future fast approaching its terminal point. Little, if any, real meaning has been found, and for such a person, who was of such supreme importance to him or herself, history will record them only on a death certificate and a tombstone.
But praise God there is another God in the universe whom we can choose to serve. And Hid name of course is Jesus. But to serve Jesus one must deny and humble himself to a level of servitude and instead of seeking his own pleasures must seek to please God and his fellow man.
To a world that doesn’t know Jesus this may seem quite foolish and downright stupid. But to those of us who know Jesus, obeying Him is the wisest, most logical, and best sound investment we could ever make. Now don’t get me wrong obedience to Jesus is far from easy. It means a lifetime of sacrifice and service as well as putting others before ourselves. But the rewards are also substantial.
Now God’s standards for obedience are quite high, for we read in (Deut. 10:12-13): “…what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today…”
But may I give you ten reasons why I firmly believe that the closer we conform to this pattern of living, the more true joy, meaning, and a wealth of other blessings will overtake us. In today’s Part I devotion, I will share the first of these reasons, in Part II tomorrow, I will share reasons two through six and in Part III on Wednesday, I will share reasons seven through ten.
Reason 1.We all want approval for our efforts, whether from a family member, a friend, a boss, or even a stranger. A “thank you,” or “a job well done,” can mean a tremendous boost to our whole day. In (Phil 4:18) we read about a gift that the Philippians gave to Paul. Paul says: “…I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.” This is in obedience to (Romans 12:13) which says: “contributing to the needs of the saints…” What better approval could we ask for, through our sacrificial giving, then for God to say of our efforts that they are well-pleasing to Him!
Amen. Knowing that God is my ultimate seal of approval is a great reminder that my works go unto him and not man!