“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;” I Timothy 1:12
Serving God brings so many blessings not only to those around us but to ourselves, too. What will be the results of serving God?
I can think of no greater result in serving God than the joy that will be held in our hearts. Joy will come out in our lives and the testimony we hold will be evident. Psalm 16:11 is a beautiful reminder that as we serve God we will have joy everlasting. “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
There is a church in Iowa where I learned about this joy in serving Jesus. Its very name speaks to the joy they all hold as they serve. The example these members give of joy is one that will stick with me throughout my life. Joy Baptist Church in Fort Madison, IA will long be remembered not only for its name matching its spirit but also the outreach it has in its community.
Bright the hours of morning, when our hearts are strong;
As we toil for Jesus, who hath loved us long;
We with joyful spirits serve Him as we roam,
On toward His palace, each day nearer home.
When we serve God, we will have little time to think of ourselves and our troubles and He will give us a peace that will confuse the world and leave them wondering how they, too, can have such a calmness to life. Remember that Paul tells us in Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Along with this peace will come songs of praise for all He has done for us and our cheerful service to Him will draw others to us.
All our cheerful service, all our songs of praise,
Be to Him who loved us, in our sinful days;
How we toil rejoicing, as His gentle hand
Leads His trusting children home to fatherland.
Serving God will also result in a love for others that knows no boundaries. No matter what walk in life they may come from, what their social or political standing is how much money they make or what they wear, etc., God will give us a love for them that goes above and beyond how the world would tell us to act towards them. Let us remember that God gave the ultimate act of love for the world when He sent His only Son to die for the world. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
As the day advances, brighter to its close
Grows the way if ever hopes in Christ repose;
His blest word of promise, we are holding fast;
He will guide and keep us, safely till the last.
Serving God is not arduous or painful but rather to serve God is to know a peace that passes all understanding. To serve God is to have a joy that is complete and full and to serve God is to have a love for the world that brings us to our knees in prayer for those around us.
Working for Jesus, hearts full of love,
Jesus is watching, watching above;
Waiting to help us when we are tired,
Ready e’er to shield us, close by His side.
