Why Worship and Serve God?

Joshua 24:15 ESV  And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Ito ay challenge ni Joshua sa Israelites na nagkaroon ng tendency na sumamba at maglingkod sa mga dios-diosan ng ibang bansa. Eventually ay nag-respond sila sa challenge ni Joshua at nag-promise na paglilingkuran nila ang Dios. Then inutusan sila ni Josha na tanggalin ang mga dios-diosan na nasa kanila at ibaling ang kanilang puso sa Panginoon (vv. 21-24). 

Would you also commit to serve God and Him only? 

Now, bakit ba mahalaga ang mag-serve kay Lord? Ito ang ilan sa mga biblical answers: 

1. God expects us to be loyal only to Him.
2. God has a divine plan and He expects us to participate in it. 
3. God expects us to reflect the image of His Son. 
4. Worshipping and serving God is our way of showing Him of our love and gratitude for what He has done in order to save us. 
5. Serving God is very fulfilling and rewarding, kaya okey lang kahit nakakapagod! 

Isa-isahin natin.

1. God expects us to be loyal only to Him.

Matthew 6:24 ESV  “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Whether we like it or not, kung nagiging mas priority natin ang work or business para kumita at wala na tayong halos time sa relationship natin sa Dios at sa paglilingkod natin sa Kanya, then mas nagiging master natin ang pera kaysa Dios. Hindi tayo dini-discourage ng word of God na magtrabaho o magnegosyo. Ang gusto ng Dios na makita sa atin ay ang loyalty natin sa Kanya and to Him only. So habang nagwowork ka at nagnenegosyo ay huwag kalimutan si Lord. Worship and serve Him only as you work and/or manage your business!

2. God has a divine plan and He expects us to participate in it. 

Matthew 28:19-20 ESV  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  (20)  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Do yo see? May plano si Lord na maging disciples Niya ang mga tao in all nations until sila ay magsisi, maniwala, maligtas (John 5:24), ma-baptize, at lumago in their knowledge and love for Him. At tayo, individually and as a church, ang ine-expect Niya na maging partner Niya in executing this plan. That's why anumang participation natin sa ministry ay dapat related sa purpose ni Lord ng worldwide mission of making new disciples and building them up in their faith. 

3. God expects us to reflect the image of His Son. 

Romans 8:29 ESV  For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son...

Goal ng Dios na i-shape ang life natin in the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ. And since righteous and Kanyang Son, ganun din ang gusto ng Dios na maging tayo. At part nito ay ang in-example ni Jesus na servanthood. 

Matthew 20:28 ESV  even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

John 13:14 ESV  If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

If you are serving God and others, especially the household of faith (Gal. 6:10), then nangyayari yung inaasahan ng Dios na maging Christlike ka!

4. Worshipping and serving God is our way of showing Him of our love and gratitude for what He has done in order to save us. 

Mark 12:30 ESV  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

John 3:16 ESV  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Ginawa ni Lord ang lahat para lang maligtas tayo at maipakita sa atin ang Kanyang great love. Ano ang dapat na response natin dito? Of course hindi na yung pagsasa-walang bahala tulad noong unbelievers pa tayo kungdi ang sukli natin sa love ng Dios ay love, worship and service to Him and to Him only! 

5. Serving God is very fulfilling and rewarding, kaya okey lang kahit nakakapagod!

1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV  Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Matthew 6:33 ESV  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Na-observe mo ba na kahit nakakapagod ang mag-serve sa isang ministry ay hindi ka sumusuko since you know that you are doing it, first and foremost, as your sign of love and loyalty to God, and secondly may bonus pa si Lord ng reward both here and in eternity? Praise God!