At a time when so many in ministry are struggling with anxiety, depression, and a readiness to leave ministry; we need a reminder of the joy of serving Jesus.
Our Colorado Missions Offering is named “in honor of Nicy Murphy.” One of the wonderful chapters of the history of our church (Arapahoe Road Baptist in Centennial) was that “Miss Nicy” was a member of our church (she moved back to Texas before I arrived in 2011). Yet, the memories she left with our people all boiled down to one particular trait: she had that joy that comes with serving Jesus.
In her 1989 book, The Flip Side, she opens with this introduction: “Who says a professional career in religion is the pious performance of dull routines by an equally unimaginative person? My experiences of more than 30 years prove that ‘workin’ for the Lord ain’t all that dull.’ I propose to show by the episodes herein that people in so-called full-time religious work have as much fun and excitement as real people.”
This is joy–a joy that is fueled by the rescue Christ gave from our sins, a delight that He is with us “to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20), and a desire to keep in step with the Spirit who fills us (Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18). What else happens from the joy of being sent?
His Joy is Our Strength
One of the first verses I remember learning in church was from Nehemiah 8:10: “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” This joy did not stem from an absence of problems (if you’ve read through Nehemiah, you know that’s not the case) but from the presence and purpose God gave them. God sent Nehemiah to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem and then issued the call to others to “arise and build” (Nehemiah 2:20). The joy that God gives us to be useful for the Kingdom strengthens us for the task ahead.
It’s a stunning thing to consider: the joy that is of God and that belongs to God is given to us to strengthen us. His joy fuels our joy. John Piper challenges pastors to ask themselves this question: “Do you feel most loved by God because He makes much of you or because He frees you to enjoy making much of Him forever?” (John Piper, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals, Kindle location 310.) We are strengthened not by the amount of joy we have, but in the joy toward the One who sends us!
Joy Cures Cynicism
When the joy of being sent dissipates, a cynical heart is what is left in the vapor trail. Suddenly, one loses the love for the culture to whom they are sent, their church grows annoying because they aren’t meeting personal preferences and expectations–which then affects family life. Yet, the root cause stems from a lack of trust in the promises, purposes, and even the Person of Christ. When our joy in Jesus leaves us, the domino effect starts and we then splash around in a sea of cynicism that, sadly, is contagious.
Paul told the Philippian church, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:14-15). A cynical heart dims our gospel light in the culture. But “holding fast to the word of life” (2:16) keeps that light shining brightly.
Joy in Gospel Partnerships
Serving Jesus with someone who loves Jesus multiplies the joy. The times I have gone into our community and knocked on doors by myself have a joy–but doing this with someone else multiplied the joy. There’s no joy like serving Jesus together in gospel partnership.
Paul opens up his letter to the Philippian church by saying, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:3-5). Paul relished serving Jesus together with this church.
Think of the partnerships you have, whether you are an established church, church plant, or ethnic church. When they encourage you, doesn’t that give you a lift? When they come to help you with “boots on the ground,” doesn’t that give you some hope in reaching your community? Of course! We were meant to live in relationship and community.
Find Joy in Christ’s Call
Derek Prime defines Christ’s call as “the unmistakable conviction an individual possesses that God wants him to do a specific task.” Later, he says, “We are thinking not so much of an office that may be held but of the exercise of a spiritual gift.”
The Scriptures call us to salvation, which brings an eternal, galactic joy: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation” (Psalm 51:12). When Paul reminds the Roman church, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). This calling is the call to salvation. May God remind us and restore to us the joy of Christ’s saving work in us.
Christians are also called to sanctification and holiness. In 1 Corinthians 1:2, Paul writes to the Corinthian church, “To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours.” Yes, Christians are called to holiness and community, stirring up one another to love and good works (see Hebrews 10:24-25).
The call that some Christians receive to a particular service is not separated from the call they received to salvation or to sanctification. God will not call someone to His service that is not His child nor part of His kingdom. And God will not use someone who is not finding their joy in the crucified, risen, and coming-again Savior.
Conclusion
Charles Spurgeon in his last sermon as pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle used a phrase that has taken root in my heart and mind: “‘Tis heaven to serve Jesus.” Here is an extended quote from the last paragraph of that sermon:
What I have to say lastly is this: how greatly I desire that you who are not yet enlisted in my Lord’s band would come to him because you see what a kind and gracious Lord he is! Young men, if you could see our Captain, you would bow down on your knees and beg him to let you enter the ranks of those who follow him. It is heaven to serve Jesus. I am a recruiting sergeant, and I would fain find a few recruits at this moment. Every man must serve somebody: we have no choice as to that fact. Those who have no master are slaves to themselves. Depend upon it, you will either serve Satan or Christ, either self or the Saviour.
Yes, it is heaven to serve Jesus. It is a joy! And the fact that the One who knew our sin not only rescued us from that sin but now will put us to Kingdom use and send us to help others find that rescue? Oh, the joy of being sent. Then we will all agree with “Miss Nicy:” “Workin’ for the Lord ain’t all that dull!”
Matthew Perry is the Lead Pastor of Arapahoe Road Baptist Church in Centennial, CO.
