It took a while to determine the winner of the 2000 Presidential election in America – but as soon as George W. Bush was declared the winner, he and his staff went into high gear to staff his new administration. It’s got to be pretty exciting to pick up the phone and hear someone from the President’s staff inviting you to join his team. Right after the Inauguration, I watched the swearing in of Bush’s White House Staff. You could tell the significance and privilege of what they were about to do. They committed themselves to some pretty high standards of integrity and morality. But nobody seemed to mind. They understood what an honor it is to be asked to serve in the administration of the most powerful man in the nation.
Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I'd like to have A WORD WITH YOU today about “The Highest Honor”.
If you belong to Jesus Christ, you’ve been asked to serve – in the administration of the most powerful person in the universe! He calls His Administration the “kingdom of God”. Your job, just like those serving in President Bush’s Administration, is to carry out the priorities, the policies, the desires of the One who asked you to serve – and not your own.
Listen to Jesus as He describes this high honor in our word for today from the Word of God in John 15:16. “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.” Jesus is carrying out His life-changing work across this planet, and He’s chosen you to serve with Him. On days when you feel like your life is pretty insignificant, remember the words of your Master – “I chose you and appointed you.”
And once you’ve been invited to serve in Jesus’ Administration, your life should never be ordinary again. Now how can you serve with distinction? First, you commit yourself to a daily briefing with the Commander in Chief. You won’t know what’s on His mind for that day and you won’t know what His assignments are for you unless you commit to a non-negotiable time with the One you serve. If that time has been getting compromised, postponed, cancelled recently, it’s time to again “seek first” His Kingdom (Matthew 6:33).
Serving in the Administration of Jesus also means you commit yourself to the highest standards of integrity. When President Bush swore in his new staff, he told them his expectations – that they would always do what’s “well within” the boundaries of what’s right ...they would check and check again if they weren’t sure what was right ...and they would not even tolerate the appearance of wrongdoing. Those are reasonable expectations for someone serving in the President’s Administration. Jesus expects no less from you – no compromise – you have been called to the high honor of serving the Lord Christ!
And, obviously, to serve Christ means you carry out His desires and priorities, not your own. Looking honestly at your life right now, are you spending yourself on His agenda – or your agenda? He’s not working in your administration – you’re working in His!
Whatever you do, wherever you live, if you belong to Jesus Christ, the call from heaven has come to you – to the highest honor a human being can experience. The Son of God is spreading His love, His lifestyle, and His life-saving message across this planet – and you know what? He has summoned you to join Him in His glorious Administration. Don’t settle for anything less.
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