A reason to serve

"Beware of anything that competes with your loyalty to Jesus Christ. The greatest competitor of true devotion to Jesus is the service we do for Him. It is easier to serve than to pour out our lives completely for Him." (January 18) 

Some days, the readings from My Utmost for His Highest are more challenging than others.  There are some days when I truly don't agree with some or all of Chamber's ideas, and this is one of them.  However, the quote is challenging and convicting to me nonetheless.  As someone whose "default setting" is serving others, I need to examine my motivations.  Do I serve because Jesus' love and life are flowing out of me, or because it is something I am "supposed to do"?  Serving is good, but if I don't serve out of love for Jesus, then my service is mere filthy rags.

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.--Isaiah 64:6

My heart's desire is that I will serve because Jesus love is overflowing in my life.  May He ever fill me with His Spirit and the living water that truly quenches every thirst!