What Is God's Will For My Life? Serve Him!

June 22nd, 2023
by Joey Hufstedler

Good morning,

I know that this should go without saying, but it needs to be said. God's will for every believer is to serve Him. In a world that is growing increasingly selfish, we are called to die to self. God may not call you to give up what He has called someone else to give up, but you should be willing to give up any and everything for Him gladly.

37“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38“And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 10:37–38.

Nothing and no one is to become ahead of God in our lives.

Now, you may say, “Bro. Joey, nothing comes between me and my relationship to Him.” Really? Let me ask you this, “What are you willing to give up for Jesus?” Every single day many of you in this very room choose something over Jesus. Your devotion to Him is defined by your dedication to other things. Many of you in here today say you love Jesus, and yet you will forsake the assembly at moment’s notice. If we were honest today, most of us would have to admit we have no real, deep devotion to Christ.

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We enjoy our worship time together unless it gets in the way of our hunting trips.

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We enjoy our worship time together unless it gets in the way of our sporting events.

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What are you teaching your family when choose a hunting trip over worshiping Jesus? I will tell you exactly what you are teaching your family. You are teaching them that His Church is not that important. You are teaching them that it is not that important to gather together and study His Word. Yet the Bible says:

24and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Heb 10:24–25.

We are all a part of the body of Christ, and you are needed in the body of Christ. We are stimulated by our gathering together. We are encouraged by our gathering together.

We are defined by our service to Him.

Do not misunderstand me on this. Your service does not bring a true relationship to Him, but a true relationship to Him will definitely bring service.

38“And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 10:38.

Are you willing to give everything to Him? Are you willing to take up your cross and follow Him?

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The cross is a picture of shame. It is a picture of humiliation. It is a picture of guilt. It is a picture torture. It is also a picture of death. We must be willing to identify with Christ in every way to be His follower. Every person in here, I believe, has “take up your cross” moments in your life. The question is, “what happens in these moments?” Do you take up your cross? Do you identify with Jesus? Do you forsake all for Him even when you are fearful or don’t understand? Or, do you cower away? Do you turn you back on these moments? Do you say, “Not this time Jesus”?

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How you handle these moments shows your true devotion to Him. Many of our churches today are struggling. Many of them are struggling because the men have said, “I will not serve Him.” Many of you left your role in the home, in the church, to the women in the home and the women in the church.

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You justify this lack of service with some kind of excuse, but it is just that, an excuse.

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Shame on you! Shame on us! Many of us must return to our first love!, Jesus Christ! Some of you may be realizing that there never has been a true devotion, a true love for Christ.

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You need to come to Him. Maybe you walked an aisle, said a prayer, got dunked in a tank, and even joined a church, but there was no life changing moment with Jesus.

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There was no repentance. There was no faith that overcomes.

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What will you do today?

Serving Him,

Bro. Joey