Serve the Lord
What a bad waiter can teach you about Christianity
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However, fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. Just look at the great things he has done for you!
1 Samuel 12:24 (NET)
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This was part of the speech Samuel gave to the people of Israel as their final Judge.
They had just declared Saul as their king and Samuel left them with parting words.
Good words for us to consider today.
“Fear the Lord” is always an interesting phrase. Yes, fear comes into it because God does hold the power of eternity over us.
But it’s also a reverential fear, an awe of Him.
Later in the book of Samuel we see that King Saul had trouble serving God with all his heart.
Faithful service to God should be with all our hearts.
Otherwise the intent behind the service is tainted.
No one wants begrudging service. If you went to a restaurant and the wait staff was begrudgingly serving you, well, you wouldn’t have a good time.
Likewise, begrudgingly serving God doesn’t delight Him.
Finally, remember all the great things God has done for you.
A fresh, new year is a great time to reflect on what God has done.
I think it gives new motivation for the future, because I get excited to see what God will do.
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2026 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
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