A KEY INGREDIENT TO SERVING THE LORD
I tried to avoid it. I tried to push it away. I tried to go on with my own plans. Really, I did. To no avail. For I knew that I knew that I knew the Lord wanted me to stop what I was doing and take my paralyzed streets ministry doggies out for a walk to the very park where I had felt so unsafe just an hour or so earlier. Jesus Christ is Lord, friend, and He is to be loved, praised, worshiped, adored, served – and obeyed.
Just a little while later, I was in the park with the wheelchair dogs when it all began. Person after person coming up to us to meet the dogs. And, unbeknownst to them, they would receive Gospel tracts and whatever the Lord placed on my heart for them to hear about Him.
Even in the park, I sensed the Spirit of God speaking to my heart which way to go. I wanted to go one way. He sent me in a different direction. I later thought to go the usual direction. In another direction He sent me. Each time I sensed the Spirit of God moving me, I moved in obedience to Him to where He was sending me.
I almost missed that opportunity to serve the Lord. I almost missed the people who left the park with Gospel tracts and the life-changing, life-saving message that the only way to an everlasting relationship with God is through the Lord Jesus Christ.
To serve the Lord Jesus Christ in the way He desires, we must love – and OBEY – the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us do just that!
In the verses above, the prophet Jonah hears and obey the Lord when the Lord sends him to a mass number of people to preach so they turn from their evil and are saved. But Jonah did NOT go when the Lord first called him. He rebelled and suffered terrible consequences.
Friend, let us seek, hear, and obey the Lord that we may love and serve Him in a way glorifying to Him, AMEN!