We often measure our faith by what we do for God, how much we serve, give, or help others. But Jesus measures it differently. He doesn’t first look at our activity; He looks at our intimacy.
Be sure you spend more time being a friend to God than a friend to others. It is easier than we think to become more concerned with good causes than with knowing Christ. Service can subtly compete with loyalty to Jesus until our ministry becomes more public than our private devotion can support.
The greatest competitor to devotion to Jesus is often service for Him. We count as service what we do by way of Christian work. But Jesus counts as service what we are to Him, our heart’s posture, our love. Abrahams righteousness came from believing God, not doing for God. If we want to be energized to do for Him, we must abide in Him.
The one aim of the call of God is not productivity, but His satisfaction. He calls us not to perform, but to abide. When we pursue Him for Himself, He will energize our calling and focus our efforts on things that endure. But when we try to do for Him what we haven’t cultivated in Him, we grow weary. The soul that rushes ahead in ministry without lingering in fellowship will always run dry.
True ministry flows out of friendship with God. The most powerful work we can ever do is to walk closely with Jesus, to know Him, to love Him, to let His presence overflow through us.
Scripture:
“And He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach.” Mark 3:14
Before He sent them out, He first called them in.
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