Service vs. Devotion

The Jan 18th entry in My Utmost for His Highest says, "The greatest competitor of true devotion to Jesus is the service we do for Him.  It is easier to serve than to pour out our lives completely for Him. The goal of the call of God is His satisfaction, not simply that we should do something for Him. We are not sent to do battle for God, but to be used by God in His battles. Are we more devoted to service than we are to Jesus Christ Himself?"

I alluded to this thought last week and it's still with me. Who am I serving? My pride - "Look at what I'm doing for the Lord," or serving the Lord, even in the unappreciated places? Even when I feel discouraged and disheartened? I remind myself that feelings are not truth and that in God's presence I lack nothing.

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!

Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.

Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;


We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Psalm 100:1-3

One way I remember to serve the Lord selflessly is to picture that He is there with me (He is!) It's so much easier thinking about serving Him if I can visualize that I am in His presence.

Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.

It would be so much easier to sing if I would see Him instead of my circumstances, right?! Right!

Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves.

Remember you are not your own.

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

He cares for us and will guide us; He is the Shepherd!