Somewhere we have seen a wall-text with the phrase, "Saved to Serve." This is true, but we venture to suggest that it does not give the full reason for our salvation.

Not a word would we say which might be construed to hinder service for our Lord Jesus Christ. He is worthy of all we can give Him. None of us is giving Him all we should. But let us go a little further. Is it not true we are saved to

WORSHIP
WITNESS
WORK

In 1 Peter 2:5 the apostle says of those who are born again:"Ye are an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."

In 1 Peter 2:8 he says, "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood (or, a kingdom of priests).. .to show forth the praises (excellencies) of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."

In Hebrews 9:14 we are told the blood of Christ purges the conscience "from dead works to serve the living God." Thus we have the truth that those who are saved are to

SACRIFICE
SHOW
SERVE

or to Worship, Witness, and Work. Does not this show the relation in which we should place our service? Worship or sacrifice is to come first.

It is hard for many to realize that God would have our Worship before our Service, our Service before our Work.

God does not need servants-He has millions upon millions of angels who serve Him day and night-but He does seek worshipers.

In Luke 19:10 we learn that the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to seek and to save that which was lost. But in John 4:23 He tells us, "The Father seeketh such to worship Him."

Worship comes before work, for in it God has His special portion, and we should realize that His claims to our worship ought not to be lightly set aside for other things, no matter how important the service may be. First among the worthies of faith recorded in Heb. 11 is Abel, who offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice. It was worship. After him came Enoch, who walked with God; Noah who witnessed for God, and then Abraham who waited for God. For us who are children of God in this dispensation, worship is most important, for we have an access to God not revealed to the Old Testament saints.
We are a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. A priest must have right of access to God and a sacrifice to offer.

We have both the access and the sacrifice in Christ. "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh… let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith" (Heb. 10:19-22).

And again we are exhorted in Hebrews 13:15:"By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, confessing His name."God is seeking worshipers. Are we worshiping Him in spirit and in truth?

WITNESS OR SHOWING FORTH

In Peter's epistle after the holy priesthood who offer worship, is the royal or kingly priesthood to show forth the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.

We are a kingly priesthood because associated with, and witnessing to, Him who is King of kings and Lord of lords. God has "not given unto us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind." No Christian has to pass through this world abashed or ashamed. He has a right to pass through it with the dignity which becomes kingly position, because he is the representative and ambassador of that Blessed and Only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords (1 Tim. 6:15).

We are here to show forth or exhibit the excellencies of God who has called us. Their perfect display, and that as a model for us, is found in our Lord Jesus Christ. When He was here the world rejected Him. We are here to witness for Him, and give an exhibition of the moral perfections of God according to His example. The world does not read the Bible. It reads the people of God.

How much of Christ is the world reading in your life and mine? How are we showing forth His excellencies? How much do we manifest Him in our daily life, to those with whom we come in contact?

Recently a prominent official in a large business house passed into eternity. He was a professed Christian. What witness did he leave behind him among his business associates? One of his employees said to me:"If any man ever lived a Christian life in his business he did!" The same testimony was borne by all who knew this Christian man. His was a true witness for Christ, a true showing forth of His excellencies.

The manner of our so doing is outlined in the following verses of 1 Pet. 2. We are to walk through this world as not of it-as strangers and pilgrims-ever careful to walk in an honest manner of life, submissive to authority, honoring those in position, and in all things so conducting ourselves as to honor our Lord Jesus Christ. This is true witness for Him. We are to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, and worthy of God who has called us to His kingdom and glory (Col. 1:10; 1 Thess. 2:12).

WORK OR SERVICE
Service for God comes fittingly after God has His portion in worship, and the Lord Jesus Christ is witnessed to in our daily life. His precious blood cleanses our conscience from dead works-the burden of works done in the energy of our own nature and therefore sinful, is lifted-and in the freedom thus found we become servants of God (Heb. 9:14).

The Thessalonians turned to God from idols to serve the living and the true God and to wait for His Son from heaven – even Jesus, our Deliverer from the coming wrath.

We are called to serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

We are to serve the Lord Christ in all the affairs of daily life. Here there is room for the varied activities of the Church of God. There is a place and a work for every member. Let us ask God to show us what service we should perform for Him, and then do it!

If we neglect what God would have us do, it affects the whole Body, and we individually suffer loss. Let us arise and build. Let us work while it is day, for the night cometh when no man can work.

Let us follow God's order of Worship, Witness and Work, doing all for Jesus' sake, Amen. F. L. French