Service or Jesus?

I recently read a Facebook post from one of Jim's younger cousins that shows a Godly wisdom beyond the earthly age of many. She was describing how God is teaching her that her view on service is not as God intended (my take on what she said) and that Jesus Christ should be the object of her heart -- not service.

Part of her post included a quote that I was almost certain that I had read before so being the curious one, I Googled the quote and discovered that C.A. Coates had written an article entitled, "Occupation with the Object" is where the quote came from.

I am struck in particular by the thought that we become restless and discouraged when our service isn't doing any good. Consider what Coates says, "Very often young believers who have not even peace with God are encouraged to take up service, and they become so occupied with what they are doing that they are not at leisure to learn or to take their place in the favor of their Father. Hence, so long as the service prospers, and they get on well with it, they are happy. The service is their life. But when there is no success, and the whole thing seems to be a failure, their joy collapses; and they have to discover how little they have really got, and in many cases to find that they are perfect strangers to the liberty and joy of acceptance with their Father. Anything which occupies us so that we are diverted from our acceptance and growth is a positive hindrance, even if it be a thing apparently so excellent as service."

Later in the article it discusses that our object should be with Jesus...and not with service. For some time I have whined to my friends that I just don't feel like I'm making a difference and that I don't feel like our church is making a difference. Perhaps the problem is my focus has been all wrong! I'm so occupied with service that I've forgetten to focus on Jesus.

God, forgive me. Help me to turn my eyes to Jesus!