SERVE!

At the king’s command, couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and from his officials, which read:

“People of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that he may return to you who are left, who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. Do not be like your parents and your fellow Israelites, who were unfaithful to the Lord, the God of their ancestors, so that he made them an object of horror, as you see. Do not be stiff-necked, as your ancestors were; submit to the Lord. Come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever. Serve the Lord your God, so that his fierce anger will turn away from you. If you return to the Lord, then your fellow Israelites and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will return to this land, for the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.” —II Chronicles 30:6-9

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. —Edmund Burke

We talk much about serving the Lord and rightly so! We are to serve Him wherever He leads us. We pray for our government and should. We are told to do so (I Timothy 2:1-4). The Lord God Almighty tugs on hearts to serve Him in various places. Some serve in prisons and nursing homes. Others help with the poor and needy. There are those the Lord calls to missions and the list of areas goes on and on. The possibilities are numerous. It all depends on what the Lord desires of you.

In the context above, King Hezekiah sent out the message for the people to “return to the Lord.” There is no doubt that the Lord greatly had His hand in the development of this country. There is no doubt when you read the historical documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, that there were followers of Jesus Christ that had great influence in the organization of this country. We have been reaping the benefits for hundreds of years. Are we not to seek to impact this country today as followers of Jesus Christ? Does He not encourage His people to the area of public service? We are called to let our light shine that others could be impacted (Matthew 5:15) and may we be faithful in doing so wherever the Lord would have us serve Him!

Where are you serving Him? Are you serving Him? Every single follower of Jesus Christ has been given at least one spiritual gift for the common good of the church. Do you know yours? Are you using it? One day we will give an account of how we used the gifts and responsibilities Jesus has given us. Oh, that we may hear “Well done good and faithful servant” and not miss out on recognition by the Lord for lack of faithfulness.

Dear Father, wherever You would like us to serve, may we do so in the authority of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit. May it be so!