Key Quotes

“I was also blessed to see the example of Job, that despite all his good works and outstandingly upright life, it wasn’t until he persevered in trial that Job brought maximum glory to God and became such a great witness of God that Satan’s mouth was shut.”

“Jesus said in John 6 that the work of God is to believe in Him and what greater opportunity to do this work than when we have to persevere in trial and trust in His Love, Wisdom and Power!”

“I know that whatever limitations/boundaries God may put forth for me in future, whether in health or finances or time, I can be a useful servant by bringing glory to His name and by being faithful while fighting any form of grumbling, complaining or discontentment. This can bring as much glory as (and even more) than someone who goes out from street to street each day to witness for the gospel or sells everything they have and goes as a missionary to another country.”

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A couple of months back, I was pondering about my future and wondering what life would be like if I had to relocate to another state or country without access to like-minded believers or a local community like NCCF. What if the opportunities to serve in my current capacity were no longer available? Would my life be wasting away?

I felt God open my eyes to see how narrow minded I was regarding what it means to serve God. My idea of real service and usefulness to God was mostly limited to things like helping out in the church, sharing God’s word during bible study, or sharing the gospel with an unbeliever. However God reminded me that the purpose of all true service should be to glorify Him (I Corinthians 10:31), and if so, He has many ways He desires to be glorified, and many of them may not be obvious to others, even fellow believers.

God is the one who appoints each of his servants to play a unique role in glorifying Him. One person may be called to glorify God through faithful preaching, another through sacrificial missionary work, another through faithful raising of children as a mom, another through facing constant threats from the government for their faith, yet another through joy and praise to God despite battling a difficult illness. All have equal opportunity to glorify God to the exact same degree, even though to us one may seem more noble or highly esteemed than the other. God is not only interested in me being a witness before other people, but even more so to angels and principalities, who also see my works and attitude in secret.

“My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” – James 5:10-11 NKJV

I was also blessed to see the example of Job, that despite all his good works and outstandingly upright life (Job 1:8, Job 31:1-end), it wasn’t until he persevered in trial that Job brought maximum glory to God and became such a great witness of God that Satan’s mouth was shut.

‘Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”’ – John 6:28-29 NKJV

Jesus said in John 6 that the work of God is to believe in Him and what greater opportunity to do this work than when we have to persevere in trial and trust in His Love, Wisdom and Power!

Therefore, I need never fear the future, because I know that whatever limitations/boundaries God may put forth for me in future, whether in health or finances or time, I can be a useful servant by bringing glory to His name and by being faithful while fighting any form of grumbling, complaining or discontentment. This can bring as much glory as (and even more) than someone who goes out from street to street each day to witness for the gospel or sells everything they have and goes as a missionary to another country. I can bring glory to God just like Jesus did for the first 30 years of His life – every nail Jesus hit with His hammer was an act of service to God. It is not the servant’s place to tell his Master how his Master ought to be served. Rather, my duty is to be faithful to do all that that I have been allotted (1 Corinthians 4:2 TLB). 

May the Lord help us all to be found faithful regardless of what God calls each one to do. Amen!

“If we endure hardship, we will reign with him.” ‭‭- 2 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬a ‭NLT‬‬

“I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich)… Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer… Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” – ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

‘This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”’ – ‭‭John‬ ‭21‬:‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

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**By Shina Madamori © Copyright – Shina Madamori. No changes whatsoever are to be made to the content of the article without written permission from the author at NCCF Church