Let Known to Serve the LORD with Your Heart

This morning I was reminded of a pretty big deal, let others know to serve the LORD with the whole heart. The context came from “David’s Charge to Solomon” (title of the passage in my ESV Bible).

“⁹And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. ¹⁰Be careful now for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.” – 1 Chronicles 28:9-10 (ESV)

Here we see David speaking to Solomon in front of all the officials of Israel. He had been announcing to them that a house for the LORD was to be built, but not by him but that Solomon had been chosen by God to do so. And here David is charging Solomon to that which the LORD has chosen him to do. Yet, he is also charging Solomon to do so with full service to the LORD from the heart.

I was reminded strongly that it is important to physically tell others to love and serve the LORD from the heart and not just expect that they will pick it up on their own somewhere. As a parent, when we want something accomplished a certain way or in a certain time, it is important to speak it plainly so there is no questions as to what to do. This is also important with service and love of the LORD. We should be speaking it plainly. Love the LORD with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.

David announced to Solomon that he should proceed with the building of the Temple from his heart. He should work to serve the LORD and not his own agenda. And, David is speaking this command in front of many witnesses. He is not shying away from speaking it, he is deliberate and pointed in the delivery to ensure that Solomon is aware and understands the assignment.

I may have missed the mark on this. Where I was not young when I became a father, and I had been a follower of Christ for a good number of years, I was not mature in Christ by any means. I may have not spoken to my boys as David does to Solomon here.

But, I did have brothers in Christ who were examples of David in this sense and over the past 15 years I have grown in my Christlike maturity to more of an example. I still have a long way to go, but I am more bold today and heed the actions of David with Solomon and lead more deliberately and vocally to ensure that others (including but not limited to my sons) should know and love and serve the LORD with all their heart.

What are you speaking out about loving and serving the LORD? Are you expecting others to learn on their own somehow? What if you were to speak plainly with others as David does with Solomon to love and serve the LORD with all their heart?

Keep the LORD on Your Heart

When in the work, it is easier to keep the work in focus and we will remain on task. But, when the work is “done” we will find ourselves drifting away from the work and onto/into things that are not of a productive nature.

“⁴And now the Lord your God has given rest to your brothers, as he promised them. Therefore turn and go to your tents in the land where your possession lies, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side of the Jordan. ⁵Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” – Joshua 22:4-5 (ESV)

Joshua is advising those that have come to be with and help out their fellow Israelite people that their work is done and they are free to return to their homes and live out their lives. Joshua is indeed thanking the people for their help and advising them that they have done that which God had asked of them. Now they can return home and get back to their own, caring for themselves.

But, Joshua also charges them to keep the LORD on their heart. They are to return home and get back to life, and they are not to forget what they have done and how they have done it. The LORD had given them victory as they had obeyed Him and now they should remain in the LORD and continue to receive victory.

As I mentioned in the first paragraph, it is easy to remain on task while doing the work, but when the work slows, we tend to wander off task. Joshua is warning the people of this as he sends them home. He wants them to know that they are free to return home, only not to forget the LORD who provided for them and the victory they achieved.

I have to remember to keep the LORD on my heart at all time. I have to not give in to the distractions of the world. I have to love and serve the LORD, “with all your heart and with all your soul”. It is okay and encouraged to get back to the life that I have been given by the LORD, only I have to remember that He gave it to me. I have to remember Him in all that I am and do.

Where is the LORD in your life? Once you have completed the work, have you drifted off, away from the LORD? What if you were to stay on task with the LORD, remembering Him on your heart as you traverse this life in this world regardless of where you are?

Compassion Even When Worn Out

I want to believe that everyone has compassion for others. Yet, what about when we are worn out and in need of some rest. Well, there is never a time where compassion takes a back seat.

It is natural to want to have some time to rest. In today’s world everything is so fast paced that we all look for that time to relax and not be bothered so that we can just kick our feet up. But, Jesus tells us that rest comes to those who come to Him.

“²⁸Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28 (ESV)

Even as we will have rest when we come to Jesus, that does not mean that we will not be tasked with continuing the work. We will be worn out, yet we are to continue the work that He has for us and find rest in the work as it is in the name of Jesus and not just work.

“³⁰The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. ³¹And he said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. ³²And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.” – Mark 6:30-32 (ESV)

In the above verses, there is reference to the work that the apostles had been doing. They had been sent out by Jesus to spread the gospel and they had just returned to Jesus. They were excited and telling of all that they had done. They had worked and worked and worked and had no chance to rest and kick their feet up. Jesus knew this and recognized it and decided to give them a chance to catch their breath. He went with them to a place to do just that, away from the hustle and bustle to recharge the batteries a bit. But, that was not what happened. As they went away, the people followed and went ahead of them to the place they were going to rest.

“³³Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. ³⁴When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.” – Mark 6:33-34 (ESV)

Here we find that the rest was not going to come. The apostles were not going to kick their feet up. They were not going to have a chance to breath. Jesus provided the example we all should follow. When there is a need, we are to work to fill that need. In this case, the need was for the gospel and the need was immediate. Even in the face of being worn completely out, Jesus showed the apostles that serving was more important than rest.

We will all have times when we are completely worn out, yet there is no time to shy away from continuing the work of the LORD, spreading the gospel, and serving others. Whenever and wherever we might be we are to have compassion for those in need and know that we will have rest when the work is done. Be the example that Jesus demonstrated for us here, show compassion for others even when we are worn out.

What is your view of when to show compassion? Are you all in when you have the energy and the time? What if you were to follow the example of Jesus and show compassion to others even when you are worn out?

Build Your House on Righteousness

I believe it should go without saying to build your house on righteousness, but what does that really mean. I have studied and written that righteousness is not something that we can assign to ourselves, only God can count us as righteous. So how are we to know we are building on righteousness.

“¹³Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness,

and his upper rooms by injustice,

who makes his neighbor serve him for nothing

and does not give him his wages,

¹⁴who says, ‘I will build myself a great house

with spacious upper rooms,’

who cuts out windows for it,

paneling it with cedar

and painting it with vermilion.”

— Jeremiah 22:13-14 (ESV)

In the verses above, we find what not to do. As I read the above, I see a selfish man who takes advantage of others in order to elevate himself. I see the one who is more concerned with his own possessions and status than that of others around him. This is certainly not righteous.

Now, having fine things and seeking assistance from others does not indicate unrighteousness. It is the using of others and placing those things above the well being of others where one demonstrates unrighteousness.

There it is, what is meant by building your house on righteousness. No, we cannot declare ourselves righteous, only God can. But, what we can do is demonstrate righteousness daily in all that we do. We should be doing righteous actions. We should be building others up as opposed to exploiting them. We should be sharing with others instead of building our own wealth and status. We are to love, care, and protect those less fortunate. We are to share the gospel with others as opposed to keeping the LORD to ourselves.

Righteous actions do not make us righteous and somehow make us better than others. It does not make our house any more or less than that of our neighbor. But, what righteous actions show is our understanding of where it all comes from. Righteous actions demonstrate the love of God flowing from our heart. Righteous actions show who and where we have given ourselves to, the LORD.

“¹⁵And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:15 (ESV)

Joshua makes it clear to the people that he gives himself to the LORD. He will serve the LORD and seek guidance from Him in all matters of His house. Joshua chose righteous action in the name of the LORD to build his house. He was not the selfish man taking advantage of others to elevate himself. He did not consider himself righteous. Joshua built his house on righteousness through his actions in the name of the LORD. We should be doing the same.

Where are you building your house? Are you gaining while those helping you get there are less than taken care of? What if you decided to build your house on righteousness through the actions in the name of the LORD instead?

Follow the Real Jesus

I am going to get a bit controversial here for a minute. I don’t want to offend and imply anything, this is my own thoughts. I am not a fan of wearing a cross around my neck. I know many people do and it is their full decision to do so. I do not need the badge around my neck that can and will be seen and judged. I am not perfect and will always be a sinner. When others see the cross, the judging begins and there is potential, to me, for the immediate cynical thought of showing one thing and then doing other things. I know that I am cynical, but I will say that it does not come without reality. I have seen too often the distortion of Jesus to fit into the box we have for Him at that moment. Now, the real Jesus is not a cross. He died on a cross for my sins so that I would not have to. I pray that is the reason for the wearing of the cross.

In my study this morning we explore the “right” or real Jesus. James MacDonald points to caricatures to show how we “paint” Him to be something or a number of things. The caricatures are; Jesus is my buddy, my safety net or good luck charm, my religious artifact, my meal ticket, and/or my social conscience. Notice that the caricatures all point to Jesus as a thing. And, He is thought of as “mine” as if I somehow own Him and we can use Him when it pleases us our we find “need” to call on Him.

“³But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. ⁴For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.” – 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 (ESV)

Paul points out to the church at Corinth the fickle nature we hold. We are subject to that which is in our view. We are concerned with acceptance of and hold back from reality. We are fascinated with the “truth of the moment” and less about the truth. The real Jesus is not a thing, He is more than my buddy, He is my friend. Jesus is not just my safety net or good luck charm, He is my guide and protector. Jesus is not my religious artifact, He is my LORD. Jesus is not my meal ticket, He is my master and I serve Him. Jesus is not my social conscience, He is the Truth.

We have to get to the place where Jesus is LORD and not just a thing. Jesus is not just part of our lives, He is the focus of our life. The real Jesus is not the “truth of the moment”, He is the Truth of our life.

James MacDonald writes, “The problem with a caricature is that the truth is in there, but it’s distorted by an emphasis of one thing to the exclusion of others.” It is the capture of the “truth of the moment” and not as just the truth. The real Jesus is The Truth and does not change with the moment. Oh, yes, Jesus does provide what we need when we need it, but He does not change to fit what we want out of a moment. He provides the truth that we can rely on forever.

How are you looking at Jesus? Do you see Him as a thing to help you make it from one point to another? What if you saw Him as real and The Truth as opposed to the “truth of the moment”?

You Choose Whom You Serve

It is pretty clear in this world and life that we are the masters of our choices, as we have grown to understand them that is. As a small child we are not in understanding and therefor rely on our parents to decide for us. But now that we are not small children, we are in control of our choices and decisions.

The title of my writing this morning is the same as my study passage from James MacDonald. We are indeed in charge of our choices and the object of our service is certainly in that realm of choice. We like to think that we are the product of our circumstances and that things are left to chance and where it appears that way, it is not true. Yes, things happen and we are left to work through that which follows, but we can either be the victims or lean in and serve the one really in charge as we work through them. God allows things to happen and we have the choice to serve Him or abandon them in favor of ourselves or some other entity.

The Israelite people had the choice to serve the LORD or serve the idols of their ancestors or serve themselves. Joshua pointed out their choice and was clear where he and his family landed. And he made it clear that once the decision was made, the commitment would be held to account. God would remember and the outcome would not be of the people’s liking.

“¹⁹But Joshua said to the people, ‘You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. ²⁰If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.’” – Joshua 24:19-20 (ESV)

It is not just of words that we commit to serve. It is in action. We can say that we will serve, but not until the action is taken does the service come to being. Lori and I are members of a church plant, although we are now going on 5 years now. As a part of our membership, we committed to volunteer our service. But, just saying we would volunteer does not make it so, it is in our action of service that we are demonstrating our service. And for the 5 years of the Bridge Fellowship, we have served.

With God and service to Him, it is not something we can say and then get away with avoidance. He is watching and keeping account. As noted in verses 19 and 20 above, if we have committed and then turn away, we will be dealt with and held to account. Even as we were once doing as we committed. The choice is for now and forever.

I want to be careful to point out that our choice to serve is not a condition of our salvation. When we choose the LORD for our salvation (in our heart, mind, and body), that choice is made. We are saved. And then comes the next choice, to serve Him. We are still sinners and will be swayed easily by the evil one. We will still be subjected to the ways of the world. So, just because we have accepted salvation through the grace, mercy, and love of God, our job is not done. Service to Him comes next.

“⁵Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, ⁶not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,” – Ephesians 6:5-7 (ESV)

We do choose whom we serve. We are to make it clear and then act on that choice. The words have meaning to tell others of our choice, but it is the actions we take that demonstrates that choice. As Paul notes in his letter to the Ephesians to do “the will of God from the heart,…as to the LORD and not to man”. Actions speak louder than words and it is our actions that demonstrate our choice of just who we serve.

What actions are you taking to demonstrate your service? Have you said the words of choice and now leave it to chance as to how it plays out? What if you demonstrate your service to the LORD through your actions “from the heart,…as to the LORD and not to man”?

Who You Gonna Serve

“²⁴No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” – Matthew 6:24 (ESV)

This morning as I continued my study into choices, I was reminded that we have to choose to serve somebody. At this I was reminded of the verse above that we cannot serve God and money. That we cannot have two masters in our lives. Where money and the challenges it poses was not the focus of my study this morning, it is certainly one of those things that vies for our attention and service.

Where we are giving our attention is where our service lies. Is it a work and our devotion to that work. Are we spending so much time there that it is keeping us from other things in our lives. Is it in an idol or group that steals us away from other places in our life. Is it in an individual that consumes our being so much that no other person even really exists in our lives. Or, is it in ourselves, where we are more focused on getting ours that the rest seems to go by the wayside.

Either of these will certainly take up our attention and drive us away from the others. But what if we were to chose the one to serve that ultimately leads us back to all of the others that we may be separated from. Jesus and God’s Word is the one authority we serve that leads us back to all others. Our service to God not only gives us purpose each day, but that purpose is in assisting others achieve what God has for them as well.

We should be choosing God. Oh, don’t get me wrong, however we come to know God is great, it is the choosing Him that gets us where we should be. But, when we choose Him, we are making the conscious decision to serve Him. Sometimes I believe that sometimes, people “come” to God, selfishly looking for the next thing in their list of accomplishments. It was a choice of convenience to get something and then the choice is abandoned for the next thing on the list. There is a lack of service to the LORD and a looking for something from the LORD instead.

You cannot give your attention to more than one. Even by not “choosing” where to put your service is a choice in and of itself. By not choosing, you have chosen ambiguity and chaos. You have nowhere to put your trust and devotion. You have chosen to drift and where drifting may be okay in the moment, ultimately it leads you nowhere, at least nowhere of any real consequence to you. You are simply living for yourself and the momentary “happiness” that fades when the moment is gone.

Stumbling or expecting to drift into the LORD is not the way. Make the conscious choice to serve Him. As noted in the Matthew 6:24 above, you can only love and be devoted to one master. When we choose to serve the LORD, He gives back to us the lasting joy that cannot be found in things of this world. By choosing the LORD and serving Him, we are rewarded with that which we need and blessings that we don’t deserve based on the sin we commit and the sinner we are.

Who do you choose to serve? Are you looking to serve yourself or something else to get that momentary “happiness”? What if you were to choose lasting joy and the only one you can serve to provide it, our LORD Jesus Christ?

God Will Serve Us

Yes, you read that right. God will serve us. When we arrive in the New Heaven and New Earth and New Jerusalem we will see God’s face, He will dwell among us, He will be personal with each of us, and He will serve us.

“³Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, ⁴rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. ⁵Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” – John 13:3-5 (ESV)

“²In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” – John 14:2-3 (ESV)

“11Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.” – Revelation 19:11 (ESV)

Jesus served His disciples in the upper room by washing their feet. He has prepared a place for us. He personally comes to make war against the evil one for us. All of these things He could have others do on His behalf, yet He demonstrates for us the service that we should all ascribe to.

It does not stop with what God has done for us, it leads into what He will do for us in the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem. He will make meals for us, wipe away our tears, and remove disgrace. Again, all things that He could command others to do, but NO, He continues to demonstrate service and desires to do so.

“⁶On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples

a feast of rich food,…

⁸and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,

and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,”

— Isaiah 25:6&8 (ESV)

I am overwhelmed by this realization that God will serve me when I arrive in the New Heaven. He will not just be at the top of the hill for me to see. He will not just dwell among me as I worship. He will not just meet with me personally. He will serve me. He will be my host at the greatest bed and breakfast there will ever be. If He will do this for me, the least of them, I can do the same and serve all.

What is your view of God’s actions when you see Him? Did you expect that He will sit on the throne while you worship Him? What about now, knowing that He will serve you himself and not just sit around waiting on you to serve Him?

Who will You Choose to Serve

What is at the top of your priority list? Monitory wealth, health, fun, family, God, work? What is it that when listed out, falls at the top of the list? This is what you serve. It is a misconception that you can have it both ways. We are only able to serve one and that would be the one at the top of the list.

Notice in the title of this post I have mentioned the idea of choosing. Yes, you and I have the ability to choose what is at the top of the list of priorities to serve. The list I mentioned is just a short one and is not all inclusive, but serves to show that there are lots of competing priorities in our lives. It is up to us to choose the one that is at the top of the list.

Here Joshua is speaking with the people of Israel and advising them of service. They have come in contact with a number of gods over their time and lineage. He is not telling them they “have” to follow the LORD. He is advising that they do have free will to choose. But, their choice should be made and they should not be uncommitted to one or the other, while providing for them his choice to serve the LORD.

We likewise have the choice. The LORD provided us with free will. He allowed for you and me to choose from all of those competing priorities in our lives. Where they are important, they all cannot be the most important thing, for if they are all of the same importance then none of them are of importance at all. There must be that one that is found at the top of the list that we will ultimately serve regardless of the other priorities that come up.

I choose to serve the LORD and will rely on Him for all. Yes, I will continue to have other things that are on my list, but regardless of what those are, they fall 2^nd and below to my service to the LORD. I know that my service to the LORD will lead to that grand inheritance in heaven and that what He has for me in this world comes as a result of my service to Him.

What do you choose? Are you looking at all of your priorities and placing one at the top of the list? What if you were to choose to serve the LORD first and foremost and placed all the rest of your priorities 2^nd and below on the list?

What Will You Give For Love

This morning I get to see just how much someone would give for love. Although this is just a short span in the grand scheme of things, it is a great amount of time none the less.

“¹⁸Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, ‘I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.’ ³⁰So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.” – Genesis 29:18&30 (ESV)

Jacob fell in love with Rachel at first sight of her. He loved her so much that he gladly gave seven years of his life to have her. Then it was that he did not receive her and was again glad to serve another seven years for her. This is dedication to love.

As of my writing this, I and Lori have been married for 28 years. And yes, that is double the time Jacob spent in service to receive his love. I work every day for this love. I give of myself to a fault. I do all things for her and for my boys. I sacrifice myself for them in love of them and will continue to do so.

I have to remember that this life is not my own. I am here to serve. I am here to give of myself to the one that I love and 28 years, well, I am just getting started. My first love is for the LORD. He gave me life and for that I will serve Him. He gives me eternity in heaven and for that I serve Him for eternity.

How much time are you willing to give for love? Are you impatient with delays? What if you recognized that the LORD has already given to you and you can and should give Him all of you for all time?