AS A MEMBER OF GOD’S FAMILY, DO YOU ENJOY SERVING HIM, OR IS IT A STRUGGLE FOR YOU?

SCRIPTURE:
Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, 
but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from 
death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument 
of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, 
because you are not under the law, but under grace.
(Romans 6:13-14)

MEDITATION:
Paul served the Lord enthusiastically. 
The apostle’s zeal was motivated by three things: 
1. Gratitude for the amazing but undeserved gift of salvation. 
2. Conviction that the gospel message was true. 
3. Realization that through the cross, sin’s power over him had been broken.

Before salvation, we were slaves to sin and unable to break free. 
But now, having been united with Christ in His death and resurrection, 
we have received the power to say “No!” to temptation 
and choose God’s way instead.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly 
also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our 
old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done 
away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. (Romans 6:5-6)

Paul knew his old selfish nature had been crucified with Christ 
and sin no longer had control over him. 
This knowledge fueled his passion to follow Jesus and live for Him.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives 
in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, 
who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

Guided by his commission from Christ, 
Paul expressed his zeal through obedience to the Lord’s direction. 
Our heavenly Father wants us to focus our passion on carrying out His plan.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name 
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to 
obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to 
the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

Like Paul, we are called to live a crucified life - one in which 
we make the Lord first in our thinking, attitudes, and actions. 
Such a life includes 
learning how to walk by faith and stand firm against temptation.
 
While we are unable to do this in our own strength, 
we can do it with the help of the Holy Spirit. 
He empowers us to let go of our self-centered ways 
and replace them with godly ones.

Paul’s faith and commitment to the Lord 
were an integral part of his thinking, conversation, and work. 
His passionate faith kept him moving forward, 
even in times of great adversity. 

The apostle knew that salvation brought forgiveness of the past 
and a way to live victoriously in the future.
Remember, Paul was persecuting Christians before he had a life changing 
encounter with the Lord – then everything changed!

ACTION:
Do you have zeal and enthusiasm like Paul for serving the Lord?
Should you?
God may not call you to be a pastor or a foreign missionary,
but you can serve Him by living out your faith for others to see.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for all You have given me, are giving me now, 
and will give me in the future. Fill me to overflowing with the Holy Spirit 
so I can serve You enthusiastically. Help me to live out my faith in a 
manner that is pleasing to You.”