A HEART OF SERVICE - PART 2

A HEART OF SERVICE - PART 2

1Samuel 2:3b "for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed"

Psalm 7:9b: "for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins".

Earlier this week, we were made to understand what it means to serve God. But today, we will be looking at this further, considering what it takes to render an acceptable service. From scriptures, we see there are two kinds of service; there is one that is acceptable and another unacceptable. We see this in Genesis 4:1-10, Romans 12:1paraphrased ."that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service".  Therefore, what makes our service unto God acceptable?

One thing we must understand, which is very vital is that our Service must always come from the Heart. One very vital aspect of us rendering a quality service unto God is that it must always stem from the heart. From the anchor verses, we are made to understand we serve a God that is always about the heart; he sees our hearts; this is area of specialty - in the heart of His people. Thus, once your service is not from the heart, it can never be accepted.

God had respect unto Abel's offering and not unto Cain's; because Abel's came from a heart pure and righteous; but Cain's own offering came from a Heart full of evil. Genesis 4:5" but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell... verse 7 "if thou doest well, shall thou not be accepted?".Our Heart must therefore be in alignment with that service we are rendering unto God. Looking at the scriptures, there was never a time Abraham had to grumble following God's commandment; He was just following with His heart. This is a service God loves. Hence, we see why He was blessed. Obededom also took in the ark of covenant, He was blessed in turn because His heart was right before God. He did not take it in because of anything He was going to get. According to the scriptures in 2Samuel 6:12, when the King requested for it, he delightedly handed it over. He just did and I believe as He was led. These are foundations on which our act of service are weighed. King David also rendered unto God a service of the heart. His heart was connected together with his service; hence the blessings that ensued. We see in 1Samuel 13:14 God referred to him as a man after HIS own heart.

Another fundamental thing is: for our service to be accepted, it must be done in LOVE. Nothing thrives where Love is absent. 1Corinthians 13:2 "and though I have the gift of prophecies, ad understand all the mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing".

From the verse above, we see though there be an understanding of all mysteries including the mystery of service, the mystery of seedtime and harvest; if there is not LOVE, then it's a waste; it's nothing. Your service only becomes acceptable when it is done in Love. 1Corinthians 2:9 " But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him". We must  love for anything we do in the kingdom to yield results. 

Cain did not love; as such his offering was not acceptable. How do I know this? The Bible makes us understand in 1John 4:20b "for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he then love God whom he hath not seen?". He had hatred for his brother, hence love was far from him. And for this, His offering became an abomination unto God.

King Solomon too as a case study. 1Kings 3:3 "And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places". In subsequent verses, we see the blessings that followed.

Another important thing to note: for our service to be accepted, it must be done with Joy. Isaiah 12:3 "therefore, with Joy shall I draw water out of the wells of salvation". For you to earn the proceeds out of service rendered, you must do it with a Joyful heart. Let your service come without grumbling, without murmurs, or  complaint unto God. We see what happened to the sons of men in Joel 1:12 "the vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men". The Absence of Joy withers; it withers our service, and can hinder one's blessings. Here, we see everything stopped working; nothing was forthcoming because Joy was done without.  We must therefore render a Joyful Service. A heart that is not merry cannot offer anything without sadness. And our God loves a cheerful giver (2Corinthians 9:7).

Thank you

TO BE CONTINUED....

THE MEN THAT LEAD

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