Deeper Reflection
How do we see ourselves in Christian service? This vision of oneself is important and it must be in our dominant consciousness, so that we will have clear thinking and strong conviction with regards to centrality, purpose, meaning, significance, impetus and pursuit in Christian ministry. Otherwise, Christian ministry becomes mere activism, or just going through the motion or serving by convenience, rather than by commitment. We ought to see ourselves in Christian service in two ways.I see myself as serving God constantly: “your God whom you constantly serve” (vv.16, 20). The key word here is “constantly”. Doubtless, this is what God requires of us. It means that the day I stop serving God is the day I die. It means I will not quit serving God. It means having put the hand to the plow, there is no “looking back” (Lk 9:62). The temptation to be like Demas is great. Demas was one of Paul’s “fellow workers” in the Gospel among the likes of Mark and Luke (Philem 1:24). But years later, Demas left the team, “having loved this present world” (2 Tim 4:10-11).I see myself as a servant of God: Daniel was a “servant of the living God” (v.20). Being a servant of God is fundamental and is foundational to serving God. We cannot serve God without first being a servant of God. We can be involved in Christian ministry without being a servant of God, because being involved in Christian ministry does not necessarily mean serving God. Jesus says, “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me” (Jn 12:26).