Surrender and Serve

“And he saith unto him, All of these things I will give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Matthew 4:10

Satan has a lot to offer those who worship and follow him. Pain, suffering, addiction, loss, despair, and eventual death. Jesus has a lot to offer as well. Life, more abundant life, blessing, favor, grace and mercy and eternal life. There is no other options than these two. So who are you going to choose to follow. “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!” (Joshua 24:15)

There are two words used here in the Greek text to describe two aspects of the Christian worship of God. The first is Proskuneo which literally means to fall down and kiss the ground that one walks on. We get the English phrase Worship the ground he or she walks on. This word is found in several places in the New Testament, but I think it is beautifully illustrated the most when the wisemen from the East came to find the baby Jesus. When they found him they “Fell down and worshipped him offering unto to him their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” ( Matthew 2:11) God has gifted you and I spiritual gifts and intends for us to surrender them back to him by using them for his glory. Proskuneo means to Surrender ones-self to the Lordship of Christ. To worship the ground that he walks on as we follow in his steps.

The Second word is Latreia. It is translated as Service. Latreia means to worship God in every aspect of life. Whether it is Church, work, recreation, or leisure, it means to acknowledge God first in these things and enjoy him in them. Paul said in Colossians 3:23 “And whatever ye do, do it heartily, as if unto the Lord, and not unto men.” And“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31) So life as we know it is intended to be lived moment by moment in acknowledging, pleasing, and praising God, glorying him, and adoring him in every aspect of life.

The devil wanted Jesus to surrender to him and serve out his evil purposes. And he wants you and I to do the same as well. But we, like Jesus, must respond to his temptation by saying “Get thee behind me Satan!” Satan has to be put in his proper place and that place is behind the believer in Christ and not in front of him or her. Jesus also said that “It is written that shalt worship (surrender to) the Lord thy God, and him you shall serve.” ( live your life for him)

God has called us to a life of blessing and prosperity not death and destruction. Let us “Serve the Lord with fear and tremble with gladness. Kiss the son…” (Psalms 2:11,12) To kiss the son means to surrender affectionately to him. This is the Psalmist David’s plea to us all because “Every knee shall bow… and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” (Philippians 2:11,12) The question is do we surrender willingly now or will we be forced to against our will in the day of Judgement.

“As for me and my house we will serve the Lord!”

Pastor Robby