“We consider what we do in the way of Christian work as service, yet Jesus Christ calls service to be what we are to Him, not what we do for Him.” - Oswald Chambers
Doing for God will always be easier than being with God. That is because honoring God with our lips while having hearts that are far from Him is our default posture of heart (Matthew 15:8). The appearance of holiness is not as costly as giving ourselves to the slow, painful, sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.
But as followers of Jesus, we are called to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, a spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1). As followers of Jesus, we are called to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:37, Luke 10:27). Ours is a faith of internal, heart transformation that gives way to external change. Not moral behavior modification. It will always be easier to be a Pharisee than a disciple of the One who is gentle and lowly, the One who learned obedience, the One who came to serve rather than be served (Matthew 11:29, Hebrews 5:8, Matthew 20:28).
Lord, may our service to you be surrender to the work of Your Spirit in us. Again and again. Amen.
Serving,
AB