Serve the Lord - Angela Hamilton

Today’s devotional comes Angela Hamilton. She shares the what it means to serve the Lord.

IJoshua 24:15 (NIV) “....But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD”

I love this verse. I love it so much that I stenciled it on a wooden sign and hung it in my living room. I use it as a daily reminder of the amazing God we serve and how honored I am, to serve Him. Over the last week I’ve been thinking about the origin of these words. I started to wonder, what exactly does it mean to ‘serve’ the Lord. Obviously I know on the surface what serving God looks like but I wanted to dig a little deeper. In my quest, I learned the Hebrew translation of ‘serve’ or ‘we will serve’ comes from the root word `abad (pronounced ä·vad' ) which means ‘to labour, work, do work’. Makes sense, right? But it also means ‘to be worked, be tilled (of land)’. I kept reading that over… to be worked, be tilled. 

We’re in a season where it feels like we’re not able to do much physical serving since we’re all stuck at home. For example, if you’re someone who serves by setting up and breaking down on Sundays, it can feel very much like you’re unable to serve right now. Or, if you’re a greeter or work in the parking lot helping people find their way into the service, it can feel like you’re unable to serve where your heart desires. Thankfully, with technology our church has done an amazing job providing serving and connection opportunities for us during this time but if you’re someone who craves physical connection and fellowship with others, this has likely been very trying for you.

So, I want to encourage you today on ways you can serve God right now from your home! 

First, you can shine His light for the world to see. During this time things can seem scary but we have the opportunity to show people what they won’t see on the 5 o’clock news. We have Hope from God (Romans 15:13). We have Peace that transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7). We serve a God who can break chains and relieve us from bondage (Psalm 107:14). And while we might feel locked away right now, we have FREEDOM in Christ (Galatians 5:1).  

Second, allow Him to do a work in you. Going back to the beginning of my post I talked about the root word `abad meaning ‘to be worked, be tilled’. God is using this time to work in us but we have to be willing participants. We have to draw near to Him by pressing in and allowing Him to work us into the creation He had in mind when He formed us in our mother’s womb. God has been doing some things in me during this time that have helped me grow so much and allowing myself to ‘be worked’ by Him hasn’t been easy but it has been so worth it! 

I pray you’ll take this time to continue pressing in and growing into all God has for you. I love you, I miss you, and I’m praying for you.

Angela Hamilton