“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5 NKJV
Imagine a marathon runner, pushing through the final miles, every muscle straining, every breath laboured, yet persevering with unwavering determination. This is the kind of strength we are called to bring to our service in God’s kingdom. Serving God’s people and the local church requires our hearts, strength, and physical and mental energy dedicated wholly to His work.
Our anchor scripture emphasises the totality of our devotion, including the physical effort we put into serving others. It’s about being fully engaged and putting our whole selves into the work God has called us to do.
Jesus exemplified this dedication during His earthly ministry. In Mark 6:34, we see Jesus, despite being tired, having compassion on the crowd and teaching them many things. His strength was devoted to serving others, even when He was weary. Likewise, we are called to serve with our strength, showing up and giving our best effort, even when it is challenging because our service; visible or not, is ultimately for God (Colossians 3:23-24).
Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, encourages believers to work wholeheartedly in everything they do, as if working for the Lord (Colossians 3:23). This mindset transforms our service from a mere obligation to a passionate act of worship. When we use our strength to serve, we mirror Jesus’ commitment and obedience, demonstrating our love for God and His people.
Serving with all our strength also involves being diligent and enduring in our service. Galatians 6:9 reminds us, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” It is easy to become tired or discouraged, but we must remember that our efforts are not in vain. Our strength, when combined with God’s grace, produces lasting fruit.
Moreover, Romans 12:11-12 encourages us to be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. This fervency, fuelled by our love for God, drives us to serve energetically and enthusiastically. It’s about finding joy in our service and drawing strength from our relationship with God. Philippians 4:13 reminds us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Our strength to serve comes from Him, enabling us to accomplish more than we could on our own.
In conclusion, serving God’s people and the local church with all our strength means giving our best effort, being diligent and enduring, and drawing our strength from God. As we pour our energy into serving others, we reflect Christ’s love and dedication, impacting lives and advancing God’s kingdom.
Let every act of service be a testament to our unwavering commitment to God and a beacon of His love to those around us.
Bible Reading Plan: Acts 12