A: Because I love him.
See how easy this is? Welcome back to our journey! This is our second stop for today, and this post is more or less a continuation of this morning’s post, so if you missed it, you can scroll back one post and get the whole thing all at once if you like.
Does my answer to the question in the title of this post seem too simplistic to you? I serve Jesus because I love Him. Oh, yes, I’m with you now… there must be more than that, right? Yes, that’s nice to say, but come on now, Don. Why do you serve Him…really?
Because I love Him. He saved me from sin and death because He loves me; I serve Him because I love Him. That’s the full and complete reason. It also may interest you to know, if you don’t already, that this is the reason Jesus gave to His disciples! Consider:
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
John 14:23
So then, there it is right from Jesus: if we love Him, obey His teaching, and there will be a relationship. What is His teaching for the one who loves Him?
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
John 21:15-17
Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, and three times Peter said “Yes.” Jesus responds with three imperatives:
1. Feed my lambs.
2. Take care of my sheep.
3. Feed my sheep.
So, if we love Him, we are to obey his teachings, and His teachings are all about feeding and caring for lambs/sheep. Sheep are followers of Jesus, disciples are followers of Jesus. Peter served Jesus after this up until the time of his own death by making disciples. Therefore, my conclusion is that if we love Him we should make disciples. Yes, it is really that simple! Notice, Jesus didn’t say anything about the things that we fight over, just if you love me, feed my sheep. Is this conclusion that I’ve taken from John 14 and 21 supported anywhere else? Why, thank you for asking!
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
I serve Jesus Christ because I love Him. I serve Him by doing my best to take care of His sheep by making disciples, just as He asked all of us to do. Christian theology is simple, and easy to understand. Why do so many of our brothers and sisters in Christ hesitate, or just ignore these things? Because they are counter-intuitive, that’s why!
A final thought for today: Did you notice the relational note in all three of these passages? In John 14:23 it is :”My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. In John 21, it is found in the fact that Peter and Jesus are speaking alone together as they have done for over three years. In Matthew 28 it is: And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Tomorrow’s stops will be all about relationship, which is the key component in following Jesus Christ.
Life Project Blog 
Reblogged this on Africa's Orphans and commented:
My answer: No better ROI. Ever.
Thanks Rick!
Joyfully done.
Rick
It may just be my own arrogance, but I don’t think I “serve” Jesus anymore. At least I never think of it that way. Perhaps I did, once, back in my Basic Training time long ago. But somewhere between then and now, I fell in love with Him. It hasn’t been “serve” since. Do I DO stuff? with? for? representing? Him? yes.
But… but… why? Um, *blushes and looks down because this answer will seem so silly*… because I love to see Him smile. I love to see Jesus “surprised” by a “random act of kindness” or a “chore completed without having to nag me”. Lol. Now, I KNOW I cannot truly “surprise” Him, so His expression of delight is just part of His being, but…
Ever bring your wife an unexpected cup of coffee when you know she needs it, and she hasn’t realized that yet? Ever give an “Unbirthday Gift”? Or cook a “special” dinner for no good reason besides an impulse of generous love?
Nope, I don’t “serve” Him anymore, and haven’t for quite a while. But I try to “gift” Him as often as I can… just because I love to see Him smile. And…. maybe… one day… I’ll even “surprise” Him!
Yours in His Love… LM
I understand from your writings how much you love “Theology”!
Well, in your remarks here, you have taken Applied Theology to the furthest extent I have been able to take it, with all the underlying goobledeegook that goes with it academically, and that last demonstrable point is that “Serving” and “Loving Him” are one in the same and inseparable, when done together in maturity. Beyond that point, I have only theories that I keep to myself!
*Laughs out loud* Dear Brother, I can and will heartily embrace any “Theology” that expresses its rationale for Christian Service as, “I love to see Him smile!” Grace to thee! LM
It would be a little more difficult to “Prove” if I was required to defend that smile as a literally and physically observed eventuality!
Oh dear me, I shudder at the thought of the paperwork…
I agree with your reason to serve Jesus, it is because the LOVE for him! How great love is because love never ends. I am still amazed at the biblical description of love in 1 Cor 13:4-8.
It is easy to read, know and understand but for me, to act it out is harder than estimated. We as the followers of Christ need a lot of hard work and that relentless effort striving in this narrow road towards His promises for us, that is including obeying Him. Oh, how obedience is so important to stay in the will of God. I am still on my way in the progress.
Yes, we do stumble because we are yet humans…but then God never forsakes us, we are not alone! 🙂 and God’s yoke is easy and His burden is light. When our obedience towards God by love and not solely by fear I believe is the right way. In the past I was so caught up in the fear of God, yes, fear of God is needed but not just because of this reason to serve God.
I really like the post reminding me of growing disciples, and not just staying at the church every Sunday with the same old followers. We need to multiply new followers into the church, not only building them as believers, for believing in Christ is just the beginning of the walk with God. In our walk, we learn to know God…it is like in a friendship when you get to know the characteristics of another person. I remember in Genesis 1:22 “Be fruitful and multiply” this reminds me of also to “multiply” disciples, those followers who are once mature in the Word of God…and shortly go out and preach the gospel.
Yes, I follow you, and you are right in saying that it isn’t always so easy to put love into action, so to speak. I find that the solution is often to simply seek His presence. When I don’t, I struggle. When I do, I find the way…
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and insights with us, we’ve all been blessed by them!