FAITH CAPSULE: Seeking God is serving Him, following His word.
John 12:23-32
The book of Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 states, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”
To fear God will keep His command and will seek Him.
Seeking God is serving Him, following His word.
Jesus points out, “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.” (John 12:26)
The whole matter is to Fear God, seek God, serve God, and follow Him so that the Father will honor such.
Seeking God leads to serving Him.
In serving God is to follow Him.
Jesus declares clearly, “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”(John 12:26)
Are you serving God fully?
Are you serving God for your material gain?
Search yourself to identify how you are serving God.
Apostle Paul encourages, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”(Romans 12:1)
With understanding, know to serve God sacrificially, and let your serving God be acceptable before God alone.
Do not serve God casually but serve God by following God fully as Jesus requests, “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me.”
Following Jesus means putting all away to follow him.
Following Him is stepping after the same way that He stepped while He was on the face of the earth.
The expectation of Jesus from His disciples to follow Him records, “When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Mark 8:34)
Do you have the desire to follow Jesus?
Jesus made fishermen of those who desired to follow Him. The book of Matthew 4:19 records, “Then He said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”
Serving Him is following Him.
Following Him is a sacrifice by giving up everything for Him.
To follow Him is not to be a spectator but to learn and to become fishers of men.
Jesus’ request for a man to follow Him does not identify Him as a slave master.
Matthew 19:28 records the reward for all that follows Him, “…Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Serve Him fully to experience the fullness of the reward for following God.
Prayer for today: Ask God to enable you to serve Him fully by following Him.