Offering an acceptable service to God (2)

In my previous posting, I ended with the mention of Moses earnest service to God - “…By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh`s daughter; choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;” – Heb 11:24-25

God didn’t seem to be there when he wanted to take on the leadership role to lead his people. Instead, he was forced to abandon his plan and became a fugitive fleeing into the wilderness – banished from his people.

Have you taken time to find out why was his service and sacrifice not acceptable to God? The question is - What is an acceptable service? From the example of Moses, an individual desire to serve does not seem to be the only criteria. In fact, by itself, it was counted unacceptable… mmm… what am I saying?

The desire to serve without knowledge and/or with wrong reasons are not acceptable to the Lord e.g. “Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you…” – Mat 7:22-23

This group of Christians served in the ministry without the knowledge of the true WILL of God (Mat 7:21) and were rejected.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.. So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” – Mat 23:27-28

This group of religious teachers served Jehovah for the praises of men (Mat 6:16) and they too were rejected.

So in our service to God, we must truly understands the will of God in His salvation plan and truly understands our own attitude toward service.

Cain’s offering was disregarded by God because he did not do well and his deeds were evil (Gen 4:5-7; 1 Jn 3:12).

In summary, an acceptable service must be accompanied by:
1. True knowledge of the will of God. This does not equal to works like prophesying the words of God, casting out demons, performing miracles, etc.
2. Good attitude to service. This include humility, faith, patience, forbearance, love, etc.
3. Rejecting to seek the praises of man, having full knowledge that our ability to serve are entrusted to us and not from out of our own.

For these then we must strive patiently to acquire the knowledge and the right attitude to offer up our acceptable service to God.