Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
This conversation might sting a little, but here's a hard truth: You can believe in God and still be lazy about the way that you choose to show up and serve Him. You could be super saved and sanctified on Sunday and sleepwalking by Tuesday, going through the motions, checking boxes.
Our Verse of the Day is Romans chapter 12, verse 11. It says, "Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically."
Paul has something to say about this, and it’s a message we all need to take heed to.
Two Workers
I want to put it to you like this. There are two workers. The first worker shows up to work, goes above and beyond, gives their all—early, staying a little late when necessary. Doing things without being asked. Taking initiative. I'm talking going around serving with a smile, just going and taking good care of people.
Meanwhile, they have a coworker, a counterpart, coming in the door—dragging late every single day, doing everything with a frown on their face, having an attitude unnecessarily, making things difficult for everyone around them.
Which One Are You?
The question I have for you is: in that scenario spiritually, which one are you? Are you clocking in or are you all in with your faith?
That's why Paul wrote this. Because the reality is we can become a little lethargic when we're serving God. I don't know how we can, but it's just the norm. It's like, as people, sometimes we lose sight of just how good He is. Sometimes we lose sight of the fact that we were lost and now we've been found, saved, bought with a price.
Now we have the ability to serve and to give and to give thanks.
Service and Attitude Go Far
I'm telling you, you have no idea how far just service and a great attitude, enthusiasm, will take you. I know from personal experience. You know how I know? I was serving at a church—a megachurch—and I was incredibly excited to go and be a part of everything they had going on. I didn't care. I wasn't thinking about having a job or anything like that. I was just happy to be a part of the mission of seeing lives transformed for Christ.
I was in there and they started asking, "Hey, can you help with baptism?" "Yeah." "Hey, can you help with this event?" "Yeah." "Hey, can you set up some chairs?" "Yeah." "Can you tear down some chairs?" "Yeah." "Can you take the trash?" "Yeah, whatever you need. I'm happy to do it."
The Executive Pastor
Well, I noticed one particular day I was helping people get signed up for baptism, and guys kept coming and talking to me like, "Hey, man, how you doing?" One particular gentleman, though, he locked in on me. He said, "Hey, sir, tell me your name. Tell me a little bit about you. Never seen you before."
He said, "If someone wanted to sign up for baptism..." He's asking me all these questions, and I’m responding, "Oh, yes, sir, I'm happy to tell you. You do this, you do that. We got this. We got that. Boom!"
He's like, "Sounds good, man. I'll be back to check you out."
Before the day was over, he checked on me about ten times. By the end of the day, he got my information and asked how we could connect.
Come to find out, I'm sitting in the office a couple of weeks later with him. He's one of the executive pastors of the church. He says, "What do you want to do with your future?"
I'm thinking, "I want to go into ministry, but I don't know if I'm supposed to say that." I started telling him my career objectives. He's like, "No, what do you want to do? Like, for God and His kingdom?"
He was trying to get me to say the thing that I didn't think I was able to say. I said, "Man, I would love an opportunity to really serve God like with all my fiber every day."
He said, "You're already doing that. I saw it at that table. You have something that can't be taught. You had an enthusiasm for service to God."
From Service to Leadership
A few months later, I was hired to be pastor of that church—director of discipleship for one of the fastest growing churches in America at the time. And it all started with enthusiasm in my heart, in my service, in my smile.
But this is not about me. This is about you and what God called you to do. The opportunity that you have.
Are You Doing it With a Smile?
How are you using the very breath that God gave you? It's His breath in your lungs anyway. How are you using it when you have an opportunity? When the church needs a little bit of help? When the community has an opportunity for you to show up, serve, volunteer, give back—are you doing it?
When you do it, are you doing it with a smile? Do you have joy in your heart? Is the joy of the Lord strengthening you? Because that can be the difference in someone saying yes or no to Christ through their interaction with you.
My Challenge for You
That's it, family. No more lethargy when it comes to God. We are now going all in—not clocking in—giving Him everything we have, serving Him, working hard with enthusiasm.
That's my challenge for you this week. Find someone you can serve and make sure they feel the joy of the Lord in your heart when you do it, and watch that service change everything.
