When to Serve or Savour Jesus by Steve Johnson
H
ow do we find the balance between serving Jesus and savouring Him? By serving the Lord, I mean service like fulltime Christian ministry on the mission field, local church, or parachurch organization. I also think of non-full-time service, such as using our gifts and talents in some way in our local church. Even our occupation can be done as service to the Lord (Ephesians 6:5–7). Scripture is full of admonitions about serving the Lord. The Lord told Abraham, “Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life,” (Genesis 17:1). Israel was told, “You must serve only the Lord your God,” (Exodus 23:25). Christians are commanded, “Never be lazy, but
work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically,” (Romans 12:11). And, “Do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible,” (1 Corinthians 7:35). By savouring the Lord, I mean enjoying, cherishing, and treasuring Him. Psalm 37:4 says, “Take delight in the Lord.” And in Psalm 43:4, David calls God “the source of all my joy.” Paul exhorts us, “Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord,” (Philippians 3:1). We see the contrast between serving and savouring Jesus in the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38–41. Jesus stops at their house to rejuvenate and relax. While there, Mary seats
