Work & Witness – Serving Christ “full-time” (11 Dec 2016)

Jesus Christ followed His Father’s will, praying in deep anguish and with sweats of blood in the garden of Gethsemane, “Thy will be done” (Luke 22:44; Matt 26:38, 42). Jesus teaches us to pray, “Thy will be done” (Matt 6:10). He worked “full-time” as a carpenter before He set forth as a “full-time” minister of God the Father for three years.

“If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him” (John 12:26).

Conditions for following and serving Christ “full-time”
1) Dying to the sinful self daily (John 12:24; Gal 2:20)
2) Bearing the Cross of Christ daily (Mark 8:34-35; Matt 11:28-30; Lam 3:27)
3) Serving Christ only (Luke 16:13; Col 3:23-24)

As a Christian student
The opportunity to serve Christ is offered only once to the Christian student. The period for student life is short. The most effective personal witness and evangelist in the campus is the Christian student. He or she is closest to the peers and spend the longest time with them. The pressures faced by Christians and non-Christians students are the same. Who will make the difference to the non-Christian students except the Christian?

As a Christian worker or employee
The period of service for Christ can be short if one moves from job to job. The opportunities open up with each new job. When these short periods add up they can be long. It can be as long as 30 to 40 years, as though one works for a single company. Who else except the Christian can move in and around the workers of the organization freely? No full-time pastor or evangelist can do that. You are placed there for a purpose and for a limited period. Pray for them by name.

As a Christian manager
Your position in that organization is unique and strategic. You may influence the decision-makers. You are there to steer and keep the organization vibrant and hold the workers’ jobs. God’s servants study the Scriptures and look beyond to their present organizations and empires. Examples are: Joseph and Moses in Egypt, Daniel and his three friends in Babylon, Mordecai and Nehemiah in Persia. They know God’s will for their future. The empires of Egypt, Babylon and Persia are gone. Joseph, Moses, Daniel and his three friends, Mordecai and Nehemiah have completed their service on earth and will rise and enter God’s eternal rest.

As a Christian retiree
In God’s economy, there is no retirement in the Heavenly Father’s business. The Christian retiree can give godly counsel to younger Christians. The enduring ministry of older disciples of Christ is prayers and intercessions. This ministry is a pleasing aroma for all Christians to God. So pray for all who are in full-time Christian service of one kind of the other, in traditional and non-traditional mission fields. God hears all your prayers.

Christ calls every Christian to follow Him “full-time” at different phases of life
The Christian students, workers, managers, bosses and retirees have to make most of the opportunities to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with love, grace, mercy and compassion. NonChristians will not hear the Gospel if you do not preach the Good News. Be prepared to share the Gospel.

Leave the convincing, conviction and the conversion to the Holy Spirit. Your part is to sow, pray and water the Gospel seeds with prayers and tears (Psalm 126:5-6).

Now may the God of peace equip you with everything good that you may do His will…through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Heb 13:20-21)

 

Elder Yoong Yuen Soo