Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. – 2 Timothy 2:1-4
I often find notes in my drafts that I saved without always recording the source. But, regardless of the author the truth bears repeating. That’s especially true in a matter so important as living so as to please God.
There are many reasons that motivate service to God, but the most important one is a desire to acknowledge the love He has shown to us by acting in ways that please Him. Paul’s life was transformed by meeting Jesus Christ, and the man who had led the persecution of believers became the greatest missionary of the early church. But Paul’s new life was not an easy life. He faced opposition, persecution, and great hardship; yet his service to God never wavered. The love God had showed toward him created an obligation on Paul’s part to do the work to which God had called him. He wrote, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead” (2 Corinthians 5:14).
If our motive for serving God is not right, it will not withstand the trials and hardships of life. Many people start out serving God only to later turn aside. If we recognize that our lives are not about pleasing ourselves but about pleasing God, it changes the way we look at both service and difficulty. When our hearts are filled with love for God and appreciation for the love He has freely given to us, we will be quick to serve. We will be willing to give up certain things, even those to which we may have a right, in order to be a more effective servant of Jesus Christ. Our highest goal should be to honor and please God because of His grace and great love for us.
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
