There is a prevailing thought in the body of Christ that as believers we must be predominantly focussed on evangelism and spreading the good news of Jesus to those who don’t know Him. We were not saved just for ourselves to enjoy a new, abundant life but we were saved to serve the Lord. This is because Jesus gave the commission to His disciples to go out and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19), but this should not be taken out of the context of the love relationship Jesus had with His disciples. His predominant desire was not for them (or us) to serve Him, but to know Him intimately.
Jesus Himself defined what eternal life is in His prayer to the Father recorded for us in John 17. He said:
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:3)
The Greek word translated “know” in the verse above is ginṓskō which means to know, especially through personal experience. It is also used in Luke 1:34 “And Mary [a virgin] said to the angel, ‘How will this be since I do not know (ginṓskō = sexual intimacy) a man?'” So Jesus was saying that eternal life is to intimately know Him and His Father, our Father.
Elsewhere in Ephesians 5:31-32 and 1 Corinthians 6:16-17, the apostle Paul also compares the intimacy of marriage with our love relationship with Jesus. When a man and woman marry, the expectation is that the marriage will be based on friendship and intimate love, there is a desire to spend time with one another and enjoy one another’s company. That is the number one desire the Lord has for you. He desires you as a husband desires his wife. [In the symbolism of marriage, the husband represents Christ and the bride represents the church, that is you and me (Ephesians 5:32)]. He thinks you are beautiful, He loves you passionately and wants nothing more than to spend time with you. And He wants to do that for eternity. He wants to enjoy life together with you and out of your mutual intimacy He wants to bear fruit with you just as marriages produce children borne out of love. The way He wants to “serve” you is by intimately loving you and the way He wants you to “serve” Him is by intimately loving Him.
We can see this in the example of the two sisters Martha and Mary, related to us in Luke 10:38-42. Martha had invited Jesus to her home and was distracted and busy by all the preparations that had to be made while her sister Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet listening to Him. Eventually, worn out and angry Martha came to Jesus complaining that He didn’t care that her sister was leaving everything to her and demanding that He tell Mary to help her! Jesus’ answer reveals what is really important to Him:
Luke 10:41-42
41“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,42but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Jesus has said that only one thing is needed and that is to spend time with Him, listening to Him. That is what He desires – to spend time with you because HE LOVES YOU! He will never be angry with you for not “doing enough” for Him! He gave Himself for you on the cross so that He could spend eternity with you and He wants that to begin now. The more you experience His wonderful love, the more you will fall in love with Him and the more fruitful you will be doing things together with Him. Actually the only way you can bear fruit for Him is to be with Him: “apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:15).
So stop worrying that you are not serving Him enough! In His eyes you are perfect – flawlessly beautiful [because He has given you the gift of righteousness (Romans 5:17)], you are His darling and He loves you passionately. His word to you today is:
Song of Songs 4:7
You are altogether beautiful, my darling;
there is no flaw in you.
And you can reply:
Song of Songs 7:10
I belong to my beloved,
and his desire is for me.
Amen.