Jared followed Andrew into Fellowship Hall while their wives headed to the children’s wing to pick up the kids. They poured cups of coffee, knowing the kids would want to play on the playground for a while. After greeting a few other members of the congregation, they settled at one of the round tables.
Andrew leaned back in his chair. “So, what did you think of the sermon this morning?”
Jared set down his Styrofoam cup. “I just don’t get it. I thought becoming a Christian would make me feel free. But God wants so much from me. The sermon today was all about the things we should do for God. Being servants and all that. What kind of loving God demands us to be slaves for Him?”
Andrew’s voice was calm. “God isn’t looking for slaves. He has everything He needs. He doesn’t want us to serve Him because He’s forcing us to, but because we want to.”
Jared frowned. “But why would we want to? Don’t people naturally want to be their own masters? Serving God makes no logical sense.”
Andrew studied Jared for a moment before answering. “Before you and Susan met, she lived by herself, right?”
Jared added a packet of sugar to his coffee and stirred it. “Yeah. She had a little apartment in Springdale. Why?”
“When she lived by herself, she could come and go as she pleased, could eat when she wanted, and keep her house the way she wanted.”
“Well, sure. Where are you going with this?”
Andrew smiled. “Just hear me out for a minute. How would you feel if Susan decided to visit her parents and spend the night, but didn’t tell you?”
“She wouldn’t do that.”
“No, probably not. But you wouldn’t like that, would you?”
Jared frowned. “No. When you’re married, you tell each other what you’re doing.”
“Exactly. Does Susan usually make dinner for the family?”
“She does…”
“And what if she decided to go out with friends after work?’
Jared’s folded his arms across his chest. “It would be fine, but I’d expect her to tell us her plan. I don’t understand why we’re talking about Susan.”
Andrew wrapped his hands around his cup. “We’re talking about Susan because you love her. You expect her to tell you what she’s doing because you want to be in a relationship with her. She chooses to make dinner for the family because she loves you and wants to nourish you. And I bet if she went out with friends after work, she’d probably ensure there were enough leftovers in the fridge so you all had something to eat.”
Jared laughed. “That’s true. I’m a terrible cook, and she knows I’d probably feed the kids boxed mac and cheese for dinner.”
Andrew smiled. “Yeah, I’m not so good in the kitchen either. My point is, Susan does those things because she loves you and the children. Some people might balk at having to account for their whereabouts all the time, but it’s perfectly natural in a marriage.”
Jared’s patience was wearing thin. “Dude, this is a lovely story, but I don’t understand what this has to do with my question.”
“No?”
Jared frowned. “No. Please explain.”
Andrew took a sip of his coffee. “God loves you and wants to be in a relationship with you. If you love God, you want to do things for Him because you love Him, not because He’s forcing you to. It’s just like Susan wanting to make sure you guys have a good dinner. You don’t demand that she feed you. She does it because she wants to. And you appreciate it as the act of love it is. It’s the same way with God. Every time we put God’s will above our own, it’s a way for us to show Him how much we love Him. I’m sure you feel good when you do things for Susan.”
“I do. Last weekend I surprised her by getting a babysitter and taking her out to a show. The entire time I watched her out of the corner of my eye. I loved seeing how happy that made her.”
Andrew nodded. “It’s the same thing when we do things for other people in God’s name. We get joy out of serving God because we love Him.”
Jared drained his cup. “I think I’m starting to get it. But how can I serve God?”
“Just pray. He’ll show you what to do. But the first thing he wants from you is easy.”
Jared lifted his eyebrows. “Oh, what’s that?”
“You’re called to love your wife and children.”
Jared grinned. “That, my friend, I can absolutely do.”
Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
John 14:23
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.
God, You want us to serve You and obey You because we love You, not because You need us to. Please help us seek ways to serve You in our daily lives. They don’t need to be grand gestures, as You tell us that even giving a cup of cold water to one of your little ones will give us a reward. Thank you for first loving us. We don’t deserve Your love, but we are so thankful for it. Please help us see You as a loving Father who wants our love, time, and attention, only because You love us. And help us treat those around us with love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Karen
Thank you for this beautiful short story about Loving God first and serving him out of our love for him , then in return serving others to show we love them in the same way that God first loved us.
I am so glad to hear your new Christmas 🎄 novella is available for pre sale and will be coming out next month to start reading before Thanksgiving .
It sounds like a very interesting story, I love the cover( even though I never judge a book by its cover). I like the setting that you choose in writing this book.
I am glad to hear that you are having more time to do things that you like and enjoy. I am still grateful for still receiving your short stories in the way I can now. I know that you are enjoying the Fall season as the colors surrounding you are so vibrant and beautiful.
We are glad this morning that we have a touch of Fall( even though probably will not last long).
We sure do miss the seasons.
I hope you have a very blessed Sunday along with a wonderful week ahead.
Thank you for your friendship and your encouragement in your short stories and your wonderful books.
God bless you and your family.
Thank you! I think serving other people makes God happy. Fall is a beautiful time of year in Pennsylvania. We’re fortunate to enjoy different seasons throughout the year. So the next season will be the one to read Christmas books. I’m happy to have a new one coming out soon. My publisher always does a nice job with the covers. I can’t take any credit for that! Hope you have a wonderful week.
Hi Karen,
Thank you for this enlightening story about how our service to God and others is a sign of love. I am retired and not mobile enough to go out much, but God showed me how I could use my talents and love of doing handicrafts when I can’t afford to buy the materials needed. Our local Hospice has a prayer shawl and lap blanket ministry for volunteers to crochet or knit shawls and blankets and they provide the yarn to make them. They said that people who want to volunteer but don’t know how to crochet or knit or don’t have the time donate the yarn for those who do. We never meet the patients who they give our finished items to but our leader reads us letters from the patients and their family about how these items made with love are a comfort to the patients in their final days and to the family as a comfort if the loving care their loved one received. I pray for the patient and their family who will receive the blanket or shawl while I am making it. When my Dad was dying with lung cancer, he lived in North Carolina. The Hospice place there gave each patient a small quilt. Dad was a pastor but he loved to garden so they gave him a quilt made with fabric that had John Deere tractors pictured on it. When they gave him that quilt, it made him happy. We can serve others if we really want to and God will provide what we need to do that service. Your stories are uplifting and your love shines through your stories. May God continue to bless you as you write.
I think it’s wonderful you continue to serve God by making the blankets and shawls. When I had surgery, I was given a prayer shawl by someone who prayed for me while she made it. It was very special to me. I’m glad you are given letters from the patients whose lives you are touching. God has created us to do good!