Day 272 "It's Time For Your Service Checkup"

Passage: Acts 17:32

A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.

Devotion:

After Paul's exceptionally scholarly presentation of his faith before the Areopagus, how successful was it? Not very, only a few believed, not even enough to begin a new church. Virtually everywhere Paul went, new churches were the result, but not in Athens. Why? I believe it is because he spoke in his own name and power rather than relying solely upon the Name of our Lord and the Power of the Holy Spirit.

We have to be really careful of this as well when we attempt to serve the Lord. The question we need to be truthful about is -- Are we serving ourselves or Him? Now that might seem to be a rather easy answer for some of you, "Of course I'm serving the Lord, look how hard I'm working and how much I've sacrificed for Him." But is that really true? Jesus warns us in Luke 20:46-47, "Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."

I declined a speaking opportunity recently. Why? Because I didn't want the recognition for myself that would be attached to the engagement; I didn't want my humble service in the Name of the Lord to go public then become about what a great servant I had been. Sometimes it's important (as my pastor encouraged me) to tell others and let our individual example be a witness to others. But not this time; I heeded the Spirit's warning to me and declined to speak.

In our passage today, only a few became followers and believed. Paul then left Athens to go on to Corinth. Paul must have learned from this experience because as he later records in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, "When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God [a big change from Athens]. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power." I think Paul learned his lesson and one of the greatest churches of all time was born.

Questions to Ponder:

Paul said, "After Athens I came to you in weakness and fear with much trembling, resolved to know nothing but Christ crucified." That's a really good place to not just start but also to finish. How are you doing? Are you beginning to swell with pride in your service to the Lord, or do you continue humbly with trembling and fear speaking of nothing but the Cross? I think we can all use a "Service Checkup" once in a while.