There’s something striking about the way Jesus invites people to serve Him. You’d think He would try to make it sound attractive — easy, comfortable, maybe even rewarding in material ways. But He doesn’t. He doesn’t sugarcoat it. He doesn’t promise smooth sailing.
In John 16:1–4, Jesus is giving instructions about what He expects His disciples to do after He leaves. He expects that they will continue to promote the kingdom of God, but He warns them and says: “They will put you out of the synagogues. In fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.” And then He says: “I have told you this so that you will not fall away.”
But just before that he says, “When the Advocate will come (Jesus is referring to the Holy Spirit) .. He will testify about me. And you also must testify.”
And you know what the Greek word for “testify” means? It means martyr. Yes, you heard me. Jesus warns that all of us whom He sends to testify to the good news, will be martyred.
I guess that’s the way it is. Right? Think about Abraham and when God told him to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac, on top of the mountain.? Think about Moses freaking out when God called him to confront the Pharoah.
Serving God isn’t going to be easy, because God deals with the impossible, and He involves us humans to accomplish on the ground what He has prepared in the heavens. When we do good, when we point people to the Source of all Good, the world, the flesh and the devil will not simply stand aside and let us make the changes that are needed. Not until Jesus comes again in glory, will the final victory be accomplished.
In the meantime, those of us who are called to serve the Lord, now, to love our neighbor, to heal the brokenhearted, to break down the walls of injustice, to bring the good news and to draw people to Jesus, should be forewarned that we are being sent into a spiritual battle. The battle is between God on the one hand who wants all His children to be drawn to Him because He loves them and His love is pure, and on the other hand, Satan who would rather attract us and to love anything else but God.
Let that warning sink in, my dear friends. What do you think? Should we back away from this fight? Should we NOT respond to the call to serve God? Should we follow someone else, then?
Think about it. But while you’re thinking about the choice that you have to make, remember that thousands of people who came before you made their choice. And where would you be, if those people hadn’t chosen to pay the price of their lives just so that the good news would reach you today?
Let’s remember the encouragement given to Joshua: “BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS.” In fact that phrase and its equivalent appears more than ten times in the Bible. Let us draw inspiration from all the brave men and women of the bible who faced persecution and torture in order to spread the truth of God’s love. I recall a phrase given by a US General to his troops during the fierce hand to hand battles in World War II. He said, “Victories aren’t won except by tired soldiers.” And, of course, let’s not forget the comforting and encouraging words of Jesus Himself who said on one occasion, “Take heart! I have overcome the world.” And on the last occasion, He said, we are never alone in this battle, “Surely I am with you to the very end.” Because here’s the truth and the real good news: the battle and the victory belongs to Jesus!!
We may not be around to see our service bear fruit. But Jesus will not be defeated. And you can be sure that your service will not be in vain, so long as you remain and abide in Jesus, you will bear much fruit and this fruit will last.
Let that sink in, and if you have any thoughts of doubt or if you need encouragement about your service, please leave a comment, and I will get back to you.
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