I Will Serve the Lord

I heard a song awhile ago that I hadn't heard in over 17 years. The song was Serve the Lord by Carman. The last time I had heard the song I was a preteen living in South Carolina. We would listen to Carman in our mini-van with the windows down and all of us kids, sometimes 15 of us (yes I said, 15 of us!) singing at the top of our lungs "We will serve the Lord." 15 of us smooshed into a 7 passenger mini-van is a story for another time.


The chorus says:
I have made my decision
I have staked my claim
I have drawn a line in the sand
And I'll not be ashamed
With the world behind me
And the cross before
By the grace of God
I will serve the Lord



I made my decision as a girl, a little girl to serve the Lord. I knew at a young age that that's what I wanted to do. I was going to serve the Lord no matter what. Every time I'd sing that song as a child, it became a prayer and a declaration. Hearing that song brought me back to when I would sing that song. And so as I watched the video, I once again sang that song as a declaration and a prayer. I evaluated my life and I'm ashamed to say that I've drifted from the stance I had made as a child.

I'm not talking about backsliding. What do I mean by this? I mean that somewhere along the line I've gone from serving God to serving people and to serving my title. I'm busy at church, but I'm busy doing things for different reasons, instead of doing it for the only reason we should do anything and that's to serve the Lord.

The Bible is clear that we cannot serve two masters. And yet, we try to. We justify our actions as God-oriented, when really they are self-serving. If our motive is to prove to people that we are worthy of their respect, then we are not serving the Lord and we are robbing Him of His glory. If we are more concerned with our reputations and what people will think of us then we are not serving the Lord.


1 Corinthians 15:58 says, "My dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless."
 
When you serve a title, a reputation, or even people, you will become tired, drained, and worn out. Why? Because you're choosing to work for yourself. You in your own strength can do nothing. You can't refresh yourself. And the things you are doing in your own strength are useless.
However, there is hope, should you choose to stop serving the wrong master. Remember why you began serving the Lord. He has bought you, redeemed you, pulled you out of the miry clay. He has placed His seal upon you and called you His heir. We serve the Lord not as a way to earn anything, but out of gratitude for all He's done for us. Repent of your pride and self-serving and ask God to help you to serve Him enthusiastically because of your overwhelming love for Him, and not out of a need to prove something. Serve the Lord. "Nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless."
We are to be servants. Servants receive no recognition or credit for the job that is done. The Master will receive it.
Choose today to serve the Lord!