March 2007

Matthew 6:21 (King James Version)
21. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Service - From the Heart

I’m reminded of a story I read about a shepherd and his sheepdog. The man eloquently described the incredible love, devotion, and service of this dog and compared it to our dedication to the Lord. He humbly admitted that, at times, the devotion he witnessed from his dog put to shame his own devotion to the Lord. He told of how this dog went to great lengths to serve him...through exhaustion, physical challenges, pain, and at some times even very dangerous situations. In all this, the dog never thought twice about responding to his call. Pure and simple devotion.

What Christians often do is look at someone with that type of devotion and think, “That’s what I need to do. I need to step things up a notch. I’ve got to try harder. I need motivation.”  Let me tell you something, from someone who has been there, we can’t conger up the desire and determination to serve God in a greater capacity in and of ourselves. If our motivation doesn’t come from the heart, it won’t be pure or genuine, nor will it count for anything.

What we fail to see (as in the story of the dog) is that it was the dog’s overwhelming love for her master that gave her the desire to please him. Even at the expense of her own suffering and discomfort at times.  She knew him and trusted him as her Good master, who loved her, who watched out for her, who cared for her.

As I’m sure the dog often did, we too need to reflect on the Goodness of our Master. His Goodness toward us allows us to be all He intended us to be - to serve Him and to please Him out of a pure and devoted heart. That is the very thing that brings our ultimate fulfillment and joy: living with a purpose. All the abilities and skills we have been blessed with have been given to aid Him in accomplishing His will in the earth. When we find Him, we find purpose, and then we have need of nothing. The partnership that is formed with our Master not only helps us to accomplish the works of God, but fosters a loving relationship that proves not only to be our motivation, but our mutual reward. Love Him, from your heart...and your actions will follow from your whole being.

Blessings!

Dan Owczarzak