service by the will of God

Arthur T. Pierson (1837-1911), an American preacher whose ancestor, Abraham Pierson, landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1639, was known for challenging Christians to shake off their apathy and become fully engaged in serving the Lord, especially the work of missions. Born in New York City as the ninth of ten children, Pierson knew well the necessity of faithfulness to God through hardship and difficulty.

Upon the death of Charles Haddon Spurgeon in 1891, A.T. Pierson was called to fill the pulpit of London's famous Metropolitan Tabernacle. Here, Spurgeon had preached tirelessly for 30 years. Pierson took up this work in London, and continued to inspire the people of God to live their lives in a spirit of service.

Preaching on Sunday, February 14, 1892, A.T. Pierson spoke from Acts 13:36, "David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep."

"Now let us be as brief and as pointed as possible. Take these three thoughts that are suggested at a moment's glance: service, service to one's own generation, service to one's own generation by the will of God. In other words, the thought of service first; the sphere of service second -- one's own generation; the spirit of service third -- by the will of God."

Pierson further proclaimed,

"Salvation is not simply deliverance from the penalty of sin, which is justification; but from the power of sin which is sanctification, and from the dominion of selfishness: and what is that but service? When you forget yourself and begin to live for others, that is serving God and serving man. Surely no salvation is complete that does not include service as well as sanctification."

We're challenged daily by expectations and demands. It is easy to become discouraged by what remains undone at the end of the day. I frequently wonder if the things I've finished were done well. Could I have done more? Perhaps we all disappoint friends, family, neighbors, or co-workers from time to time. Sometimes, we just can't get it all done, and those nagging thoughts of inadequacy -- or even failure -- persist.

"David served his own generation by the will of God." When thoughts of inadequacy hover like a dark cloud, be reminded that God Himself has ordained our work! "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10

Pierson began to close his sermon with these thoughts,

"We need only to see that all is according to the will of God. If it is not in obedience to the voice of your Divine Pilot that you take your place at the oars and do your work, if the plan of your life is not embraced in the plan of God, if your own heart does not by its love and its loyalty take God's pleasure as your pleasure, how can there be any real service unto God or unto humanity?"

Together with the pastor, and before the Lord our God, may we confess,

"Henceforth Thy will shall be the guiding star of my whole existence; I will undertake to serve God with holy living , to serve God with holy giving, to serve God by instant and constant obedience, to serve God by taking my place wherever God puts me, doing whatever work he gives me to do, and with all my heart seeking to glorify my Master."