"For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers" (Acts 13:36).

The Apostle Paul, speaking in the Jewish synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia (now a part of Turkey), referred to King David, contrasting him with the Lord Jesus Christ, the "Holy One" of Israel. When David died, he was buried, and his body saw corruption. When Jesus died and was buried, He "saw no corruption"; God raised Him from among the dead the third day. Through Him, then, the now risen and ascended Lord, was the Gospel preached that those who believed might be fully justified before God.

It is in this context that we find the verse cited above, in which we will note helpful and practical thoughts for ourselves. The J.N.D. translation renders it:"For David indeed, having in his own generation ministered to the will of God, fell asleep." Every believer, having turned to God from doing his own will, serving sin and self, has the blessed privilege and responsibility now of serving God, "the living and true God," and of serving others "in his own generation." To serve (or minister) to the will of God_do we think of this as we ought? It is a matter that should search the heart of each of us.

We read of an obscure widow in the Gospels, whom the Lord noticed putting into the temple treasury two mites, which make a farthing. The Lord called his disciples and said to them, "Verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:for all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living" (Mark 12:43,44). What great self-denial in this service! In many ways we may serve fellow-believers, not only in our own generation but even producing an influence, by the Spirit of God, that may extend on into generations to come. In Hebrews 11 we have a catalog of many people whose lives were spent in service to God, and their testimony has come down to successive generations, and we know it has come even to us. The effect of the ministry of the apostles has come down to our own generation.

We think, again, of the Reformers at the time of the great Reformation of the sixteenth century. By their ministry they saved untold numbers from religious bondage, as well as from bondage to sin, and this has had its far-reaching effect on us in our generation. The service of many children of God has been blessed to not only their own but later generations.

Let us think of our own service and ministry "by the will of God" in the little while that is left us. We live in times of unprecedented comfort and leisure. How easily "cares and riches and pleasures of this life" may produce a spiritual lethargy and lukewarmness that leaves us unmoved by the great needs and opportunities for service that meet us on every hand.

"If any man minister [or serve], let him do it as of the ability which God giveth:that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever" (I Peter 4:11).