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SCRIPTURE READINGS
EZEKIEL 34:11-24
EPHESIANS 1:15-23
MATTHEW 25:31-46

SUNDAY REFLECTION
The theme for our reflection is called to serve. To be called means to be appointed, anointed, or ordained by God for a specific assignment. Generally, to serve means to perform duties or services for another person or an organization. Paul defines service to God as “…to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice… (Romans 12:1) There is no service without a sacrifice therefore Called to serve means to dedicate one’s life as a living sacrifice to God in response to our salvation in Christ Jesus. We shall reflect on the following facts about Called to Serve:
1. We have all been called to render service in love to all, including the least among people.
2. We shall render account to God after He has called us to serve.

Beloved in the Lord, without love, it is impossible to render service that pleases God. It is for this reason that God has called us to render the service in love to all, including the least among the people we come across in life. In Ezekiel 34, the leaders of Israel failed to love and care for their people as a shepherd should care for his sheep. ‘”For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. ¹² As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness… I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. ¹⁶ I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.” Ezekiel 34:11-12,15-16). Dear friend, we shall incur the anger or wrath of God when He calls us to serve in leadership positions, and we fail to demonstrate unconditional love for all people we are call called to serve. Some wish to be leaders or be in positions of power for selfish reasons. We are to remember that we have been called first and foremost to love and care for those we lead. It is for this reason, Jesus taught us that “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35). Our service to others must be motivated purely by the unconditional love of Jesus Christ. Without the unconditional love of Christ in us, it will be impossible to please or serve Him. It is for this reason He will say to us “For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ ⁴⁴ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ ⁴⁵ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ (Matthew 25:42-45) Beloved in the Lord, whether you are a leader or not, rich or poor, you have been called to serve by demonstrating unconditional love wherever you find yourselves. Our service to God and humanity shall be measured by the love and care we have shown to the people we come across in life. If there is one thing we should be thankful and joyful about, then it is how best we have loved and cared for the people God brought into our lives, especially the less privileged and the poor. It is for this reason Paul commended the Church of Ephesus when he wrote “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, ¹⁶ I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. (Ephesians 1:15-16). Beloved in the Lord, in our service to God, “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:8). Let us remember that whatever we are doing for humanity, we have been called to serve with love and to care for others. This is our business as believers till we return to our God, the one who has called us.

Secondly, it is important to note that we shall render account to God after He has called us to serve or after we are done serving Him. “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. ²¹ Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away, (Ezekiel 34:20-21) Again, we are told that “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. (Matthew 25:31-32) Dear friend in the Lord, after we have rendered our service to God on earth, we shall render an account of our stewardship based on how we have loved and cared for others. We are greatly admonished by Paul when he wrote, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10). How ready are you when you are called to render an account of your service or stewardship on this earth? What kind of account will you give of yourself? We are greatly admonished by Jesus, “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, ³⁶ like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. ³⁷ It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes… You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Luke 12:35-37,40)

In summary, we have reflected on the theme, “Called to Serve”. We have discovered that we have all been called by God to render service in love to all, including the least among the people we come across in life. Again, we shall render account to God after He has called us to serve. May the Holy Spirit empower us to serve in love so that on the day of accountability, we shall be found worthy of the Kingdom of God. Amen.