the desire to serve

We have 24 hours each day. Conventionally, a third of a day's time would be spent on the bed, getting sufficient rest that we need, as determined by sleep scientists as the optimal amount of rest per day. We spend some more time waiting dragging ourselves out of bed, getting from place to place, going about our daily routines. How much time is left to serve?

The issue here is not so much of how much time we have, because that is something that we cannot change. I am not saying that we should deprive ourselves of sleep by going to bed late at night and wake up in the wee hours of the morning to read the bible and to pray for other people, or even to think about them. Planning the precious 16 odd hours well is important. 

I am not going to give advice on how much time exactly you should be spending to read the bible, or the amount of time to be allocated to talking to people each week. I have no means to control that, I am not God. The motivation should not be that of feeling better because I have spent more time talking to someone about Jesus this week. The focus should be on Jesus Christ. He gave us life. His death defeated sin for good, and those who are in Him will overcome sin too. It is from the recognition of Christ that stirs up a desire for us to serve Him wholeheartedly. No one can force you. Service would be meaningless if there's no commitment, or conviction. 

As a Christian, I am still learning the meaning of true service. I do not think that I will be able to reach this point that I could say that I understand fully the meaning of service. But it's the burning passion to serve that drives me forward to serve even more, in the glory of Jesus Christ, the Lord over my life. I know how much his love means to me, I am humbled by the grace that I have been shown. It is by his grace that I am who I am today. Even if I am going to be in rags, without a qualification, have nothing to my name, I know that I have Christ. It hasn't been the easiest of uni life the past few weeks, but it is nothing compared to the pain that Christ has gone through for my sake. 

In Christ I am found.