Listening To And Serving God

One of the things God calls us to do is to serve Him. But what does that look like? What does it mean? How can we do that if we can't hear Him talk directly to us? If you asked these questions, you are not the first to do so. Like always, the Bible has the answer to these questions.

It starts with listening to what He has to say. James 1:19-20 says,

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word that is planted in you, which can save you.

This means that we should cast away all the distractions of the world and forget about our wants. We must humble ourselves. If we do this then God's words can reach us with their meaning. God talks to you through his Word and by showing you things in your life. A person sitting alone at break with a troubled look. Even a random person on the street standing right next to you who you don't know.
God is screaming at you right now! But you are too busy thinking about where you have to be and what you have to do to listen. It's all about yourself! You must stop everything! Humble yourself by forgetting everything about yourself and your schedule! Now listen to what God is saying!

If you can hear what God is saying, then it's time to do what He's saying. It's time to serve Him.

Philippians 2:1-11 says,

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We can serve God best by being like Jesus. By humbling ourselves, and moving the needs of others above our own. We can serve by helping others in many ways. If there is someone alone with a troubled look, go up and talk to them. If we meet someone we don't know in a waiting room, on the street, anywhere, ask them if they know who God is.

But we must know the difference between serving God and taking God's place.
Galatians 6:1-5 says,

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.

This tells us that we should not help someone get rid of their sin on our own by thinking ourselves higher than we are. But instead point the person to God. Show them that God can forgive them for their sin. Then God can forgive and help with both their and your own sins. With this, you do not have to compare yourself to others who are in your mind "better" or "worse" than you. But instead you focus on your own sin, your burden, and give it to God to Help you and Forgive you.

This is not the only way to serve God, for God gives everyone gifts. Romans 12:1-8 says,

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourselves more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has a body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

We all have gifts that God has given us, no matter who we are, what we have done, whatever the world says is wrong with us! We all have something! That something can be used to serve God! It is why God gave us our gifts in the first place! So we could go out and use them to show the world His greatness!
But I'll tell you now, it can get hard to serve God. Maybe even to a point where it means your life to serve him. But we can't give up. For Galatians 6:9-10 and Ephesians 6:7-8 say,

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave of free.

We should think of serving others as serving God. Jesus served others while he was on earth. God says we can best serve Him by being like Jesus. So by serving others with our gifts that God has given us, we are serving God! If we keep serving God through our lives, without giving up, we will reap the riches of heaven from God, no matter who we are in this world!

Humble yourself before God and listen to what He has to say to you! Then keep yourself humble while you follow His instructions and serve Him! Serve God for your entire life without selfish ambition or unholy motives and He will reward you in Heaven!
But DO NOT think of this as all there is to serving God! I have only lived16 years! This is just what I have begun to learn! There is so much more to what serving God really is! Read your Bibles and listen to God's words! For God has a different path for all of us! Ask God in prayer for Him to show you your path! I do that every day, no matter what that might mean I am asking for! For I know that if I keep serving Him I know I will be rewarded in Heaven!

Thank You For Reading
Long Live Jesus Christ
Amen