I like this portion from "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers for today:
Service is the overflow which pours from a life filled with love and devotion. But strictly speaking, there is no call to that. Service is what I bring to the relationship and is the reflection of my identification with the nature of God. Service becomes a natural part of my life. God brings me into the proper relationship with Himself so that I can understand His call, and then I serve Him on my own out of a motivation of absolute love. Service to God is the deliberate love-gift of a nature that has heard the call of God. Service is an expression of my nature, and God’s call is an expression of His nature. Therefore, when I receive His nature and hear His call, His divine voice resounds throughout His nature and mine and the two become one in service. The Son of God reveals Himself in me, and out of devotion to Him service becomes my everyday way of life.
So many people who get born again are anxious to get right out there and get involved in ministry. Some church leaders have been responsible for this mind set. Ministry is NOT the first priority of the Lord, however! What did Jesus say was MOST important? Look at Mark 12:29-31:
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. KJV
THIS is what is of first importance to the One, True, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! ALL born again believers have been given the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)! We are ALL to tell others that God isn't holding anything against them, that Jesus paid the price for ALL sin for ALL people for ALL time, EXCEPT the sin of not receiving Him as Lord and Savior! SOME have been called by God to enter into specific areas of ministry. Remember Romans 11:29:
29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. KJV
29 For God's gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.] AMP
The specific calling of God on YOUR life is not nearly as important as YOUR personal fellowship with HIM! Make loving, worshiping and obeying Him your #1 priority and HE will send you forth in His perfect timing! Something that I learned at The Spoken Word Church many years ago that helps me to keep everything in the proper perspective is this: "Preparation time is NEVER wasted time!" Remind yourself of this and spend the time necessary to stay in love with Jesus every day! Then, when He does set you apart, you will be READY! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Where We Belong":
Shalom in Him!
