How To Really Please God:-Salvation Before Service

erving God is more than religious duties. In man's views, once you have talents, you can do anything to serve God in your local church. But in God's plan, it is more than that. It is good to fear God. In fact, it is the begining of wisdom. It is good to be committed and devoted. Yet, that is not the first step in God's plan. It is great to give alms. Christ himself said 'give and it shall be given unto you good measure, pressed down and shaken together shall men give to your bossom' (Lk. 6:38); however, the divine will of God transcends just the act of giving. Praying is good but pleasing God is more than that.

This lesson exposes the 2 Irrevocable Call Of God and the necessity to answer the call. God calls us to:

1. Salvation and
   
2. Service
   

Call To Salvation

There lived a man who was devoted, feared God, gave alms and prayed regularly. He was serving God through religious performance but it was not the first requirement from God. God in his divine mercy had to send his minister to preach the gospel to that household so that the call to salvation would be answered.

'There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cronelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band.

A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to thepeople, and prayed to God always.'(Acts 10:1-3).

Something was still missing. In order to fill the missing link, God instructed him to send for Apostle Peter who will 'Tell thee what thou oughtest to do'.

Cornelius had the message of the gospel and instantly gave his life to Christ. He answered the call without delay.

Saul was a pharisee highly esteemed in Jewish law but he served God in ignorance. Let's find out from his pen what actually happened. 'I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; who was before a blaphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it in ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief' (1 Timothy 1:12-15). His life was transformed the moment he answered the call to salvation. He had a testimony and then served God fruitfully. His glorious ministry was summarized in the following powerful words 'I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith' (2 Tim. 4:8).

Have you answered the call to salvation? Do you have a testimony? This is the day of salvation. Never delay. Religious zeal is not salvation. Pastorial title is not salvation. Any other work in the church cannot substitute for salvation. Get saved and you can proceed to the next step.

 

Call To Service

Paul was called to preach the gospel among the heathen. After getting saved, he received a call to service. His terrible past life was no longer the issue. 'But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God and wasted it; and profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, to reaveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heatthen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood' (Gal. 1:11-15)

The call of God is divine. It is not a physical work. It is spiritual. You need the call of God to succeed in his work. Paul had served God zealously above measure and ahead of his peers but it was not acceptable in the sight of God.

If you really want to serve God successfully, follow his way. Don't do it carnally. Accept his call to salvation and receive grace to serve in the work of ministry as he will mandate.