“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” (Colossians 3:23-24 NASB)
Years ago, I looked at a book by Charles Swindoll entitled, “How Is Your Serve?” He was talking about our Christian service, not the game involving a racket and a small florescent colored ball that is hit back and forth over a stretched-out net. I want to jump on the bandwagon of the question Mr. Swindoll presented by looking at the domino effect of a bad serve and how it works in regard to our duty as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. But first, I know you want a story, right? I thought so!
In the early 1980’s I was one of the players in a “celebrity” tennis tournament. I was matched against a member of the local professional basketball team who just happened to be six feet and nine inches tall. You can imagine the length of his reach when he would stretch his hands out in a horizontal direction. I got to serve first, and I gave it all I had. You needed to win six games to win a set, and if you won you would move to the next round in the tournament. No matter where I would try to hit the ball or regardless of the spin I put on the ball, my serve was always returned. I considered my each of my serves a “bad serve.” But the domino effect was experienced as my lanky opponent would return the ball and place it where it was almost impossible for me to reach. I could not speculate on his strategies, could not predict where he would strategically aim the fast-moving ball. The domino effect took over even more as my confidence was lessened, and then there was the shame of losing, and then there had to be a letdown from my few fans. The dominos were falling! I lost! He beat me 6-0. The domino effect continued. I lost my zeal for playing tennis and decided to just be a spectator. All this started with a “bad serve”, a tennis serve.
Let’s focus on another type of serve, as I move a little bit closer to this day. Friday, I took a church member to a doctor’s appointment, scheduled for 9:00 a.m. We got to the hospital at 8:30 a.m. My faithful church member had another appointment, of the utmost importance, at 10:00 a.m. That appointment had to be pushed to 10:30 a.m. The doctor’s staff informed by my member that she would have to leave to attend her scheduled meeting because she had still not been seen by 10:20. If there was time she would come back. She’s better than me! Now this is just me, perhaps, but I think it was a “bad serve” that started at the doctor’s office. If you have a scheduled appointment, be on time physicians or people in any other profession or just in your personal lives. You expect your party to arrive on time. So, the same guideline should apply to you. Why? Just look at the domino effect when you start off with a “bad serve.” Stay with my story. Think of the conscious and/or unconscious impression on my member’s 10:00 appointment guest. Think of how that person’s schedule might have to be modified. Then think about how the driver’s schedule, speaking of myself, was thrown off. Who else would be affected by the domino effect of a “bad serve?” Only heaven knows for sure. But the domino effect could go on beyond that day or even years. Think about it in view of the messages that are sent by a “bad serve.”
Now, I have to turn to you and ask you, in the words of Charles Swindoll, “How Is Your Serve?” It is Sunday and a really perfect day to reflect on your response, wrapped in pure integrity, to the question posed. Is your service for the Lord a “good serve,” a “mediocre serve,” or a “bad serve?” Only you can answer that question and only you alone can make the adjustments needed in regard to your “serve.” Don’t be like me in my tennis story and become merely a spectator. That is not really an option for believers. Enough said! Go enjoy service! Pay attention to the sent word! The benefit is that you will be better equipped to adjust your serve in a way that pleases the Lord by the specific message that the Lord sends specifically to you. Be blessed!
“Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.” (Psalm 100:2 KJV)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King