I really like this in today's devotional from My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers:
Beware of anything that competes with your loyalty to Jesus Christ. The greatest competitor of true devotion to Jesus is the service we do for Him. It is easier to serve than to pour out our lives completely for Him. The goal of the call of God is His satisfaction, not simply that we should do something for Him. We are not sent to do battle for God, but to be used by God in His battles. Are we more devoted to service than we are to Jesus Christ Himself?
Do you remember when Jesus said this to the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-4:
1 TO THE angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him Who holds the seven stars [which are the messengers of the seven churches] in His right hand, Who goes about among the seven golden lampstands [which are the seven churches]:
2 I know your industry and activities, laborious toil and trouble, and your patient endurance, and how you cannot tolerate wicked [men] and have tested and critically appraised those who call [themselves] apostles (special messengers of Christ) and yet are not, and have found them to be impostors and liars.
3 I know you are enduring patiently and are bearing up for My name's sake, and you have not fainted or become exhausted or grown weary.
4 But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love].
This is exactly the same message! Don't make your life busy doing works! Spend time in intimate fellowship with Jesus every day and just simply do what is pleasing to HIM! The reward for that is found in Psalm 37:4 (ESV):
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
It doesn't get any better than that! Amen! Here is Hillsong with "Better Than Life":
Shalom in Him!
