Serving Him in Truth

I have a tendency to ask God to manifest his kingdom fully on earth or take me away from the darkness surrounding me whenever I am facing great disappointments or notice too many wrongdoings around me. Although I am aware that God's kingdom is a matter of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, and that it is already being manifested in a Christian life as the person follows God's ways and obeys him, I am not satisfied by what I know, hear and see around me or in my life at times. How then do I reconcile the deep desires in my heart to serve God fully with life's reality?

Chapter 4 of the book of Hosea describes God's controversy with the chosen nation of Israel. You can see the same common characteristics with the current society where we are living when you read it. Unfortunately, what is being described is often found in our home, neighborhood, churches and the nations of the earth. The Lord stated that “there is no faithfulness, no kindness, no knowledge of God in your land. You curse, lie, kill, steal and commit adultery. There is violence everywhere with one murder after another.” Do you see these characteristics as you look around in our current society and the nations of this world?

Some of the results of all these violations of God's ways was that the land was in mourning, filled with sadness and that the people living in it were becoming sick and dying along with the earth and sea animals. As we continue reading further, guess what the Lord considers to be cause for this chaotic situation? We also get the answer from Hosea. The Lord states that the people are being destroyed for lack of knowledge. What knowledge do you think Father was talking about? Can you see the reason for all our problems? We are being destroyed because we lack knowledge of God's ways and don't know God.

Proverbs 9 and 10 states that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 1 verse 7 states that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Whom do you think should have knowledge and know the Lord? The answer is the people of God. The priests and prophets in the Old Testament carried a great burden and were responsible to teach and lead the people in the way of truth, holiness and knowledge of the Lord. We already know that they have not been successful.

Now what is the implication for us today as people of God? We read in Revelations 1 verse 6 and Revelations 5 verse 10 that Christ has made us to be a kingdom, and priests to serve our God and Father. We can see that all who believe in Christ and accept him as Lord of their lives must live as priest unto God. We must serve, glorify and magnify God our father as priest. And we must take authority over the forces of darkness, our own carnal nature, heal diseases and sicknesses, win souls and gain nations for the advancement of the kingdom of God on earth as kings. We have been given the same authority as the twelve disciples of Christ (Matthew 10).

As priests and kings we must propagate the ways of the kingdom of God that are righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit by making disciples. To avoid the big blunder that the chosen nation Israel did we must: (1) walk in the truth and learn to help each other walk in the truth because when Jesus came on this earth and sent the Holy Spirit Father he had given us understanding to know the Father of truth; (2) love one another not only with words but with actions and truth; (3) choose deliberately to do what is right; (4) accept discipline and ask for God's wisdom if we lack it; and (4) obey his commands and do what pleases him so he can live in us without being grieved.

Loving God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, and obeying and serving him and his people can help reconcile the deep desires in our hearts. You may say, how can I love God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength? Don't think that it is impossible! If Father says that we will find him when we search for him with all our heart, we can. We can see that we have our part to do. As he is knocking at the door of our heart, he will let himself be found if we are really in an attitude of submission and learning.

God says in Proverb 1 verse 3: “Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my Spirit on you: I will make my words known to you.” As God pours out the Spirit of Wisdom on us, he will make us wise. We will be able to be a witness of the power and glory of God on earth and hear one day these words, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” May our prayer be to ask Father to keep us strong till the end enabling us to love and serve him in truth!

Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and obey it! (Luke 11:28)

Marie Monaus 20 Jun '10