Christ’s Rightful Place in Our Hearts
If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. – Luke 9:23
2 Corinthians 8:1-5
1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia.
2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.
4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.
5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.
The Immensity of the Internet
The Internet is a vast and constantly expanding digital landscape. As of 2025, it is estimated that there are between 50 and 100 billion pages online, with over 1.1 billion websites. Out of the 8.25 billion people on Earth, about 5.65 billion are connected to the Internet, making it an integral part of modern life. Social media platforms like Facebook alone have over 3 billion users, which is roughly 37% of the world’s population.
This massive connectivity demands significant resources. In 2024, Internet users utilized about 1,200 exabytes of bandwidth each month. To understand this, one zettabyte equals 1,000 exabytes, a billion terabytes, or a trillion gigabytes. But this digital activity also carries risks. Around 30,000 websites get hacked daily, showing how vulnerable our interconnected world really is.
The Universal Nature of Following
In this digital age, each of us follows someone or something. We scour the Internet and social media for information, opinions, and guidance. We listen to friends, leaders, or self-proclaimed experts. Some of us stick to family traditions or societal norms. No matter the source, we all follow something. What we decide to follow ultimately shapes what we serve. As Bob Dylan famously sang:
“But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the devil, or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.”
Serving the Father: A Higher Calling
Serving the Father requires more than merely being a child of the King. It demands intentional choices and a commitment to live by those choices. Serving the Father is not passive; it is an active, continuous decision to align our lives with His will. What is the standard for serving the Father? Where do we begin? Paul provides a clear example regarding the brothers and sisters of Macedonia. Despite their own hardship, poverty, and sacrifices, they stayed committed to serving and helping others. They even begged for the chance to contribute, showing a level of selflessness that went beyond their means.
The secret to their remarkable service lies in their first and most important decision: 2 Corinthians 8:5: “They gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us.”
Once they fully surrendered themselves to the Father, their willingness to give their time, resources, and energy came naturally. This act of surrender was the foundation of their service, allowing them to rise above their circumstances and serve with joy and resolve.
REFLECT & PRAY
Increasing our service and devotion to the Father is challenging. It often feels difficult, even impossible. But it is a calling that anyone can answer. The first step is daily surrender, letting go of control of our hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ. From this surrender, we gain the strength and willingness to serve others, despite hardships and difficulties.
Father, encourage me to surrender control of my heart daily to the Lord Jesus Christ. Help me to serve with joy, determination, and selflessness, following the example of those who gave themselves fully to You.
INSIGHT
Hearing and Doing: The Foundation of Service
To be a successful servant of the Father, it is not enough to simply hear His Word; we must embrace it and bring it to life through our actions. Hearing alone is not enough. Without action, it is like a seed that never takes root in fertile soil
James 1:22: “Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear!”
True service begins with recognizing God’s sovereignty. Accepting Him as Lord is not merely a concession; it is a confession of truth. It is a choice to believe in what is already a fact. From that point on, we dedicate our lives to living out what we profess to believe.
Christ’s Rightful Place in Our Hearts
The Father wants Christ to hold a special and sacred place in the hearts of His children. Sadly, many of us have pushed Him aside and taken control ourselves. As His servants, our duty is to surrender and let Christ reclaim His rightful spot in our hearts.
1 Peter 3:15: “Reverence Christ as Lord of your heart.”
The Greek word translated as “reverence” or “sanctify” is hagiazo, derived from hagios, meaning “holy or set apart.” This term “conveys a sense of dedication, consecration, and wholehearted commitment.” To reverence Christ is to serve the Father with a whole heart, dedicating ourselves fully to Him.
This act of reverence involves a strong and unwavering faith in the Father’s sovereignty and the Lord Jesus Christ’s rule as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. As Barclay translates, 1 Peter 3:15 can also mean, “In your hearts give Christ a unique place.”
The Priority of Relationship
For the children of the King prioritize their service to the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, we give Christ His rightful place in our lives. Things change. Our relationship with the Father becomes our most precious possession, something no circumstance or suffering can take away. Our new sense of security influences how we face life’s challenges.
Those who prioritize material possessions, comfort, or temporary pleasures expose themselves to risk. Life in a broken world is unpredictable, and these possessions can vanish in an instant. As a result, such individuals are often hurt because their sense of stability depends on transient things.
Suffering and Security
Suffering is an unavoidable part of life. No one escapes it. However, for children of the King who serve the Father wholeheartedly, suffering cannot touch what truly matters. It cannot steal away our relationship with the Father, which is the foundation of our security and joy.
The fear of suffering is diminished when we elevate our service and trust in the Lord. As Maclaren writes, “Only he who can say, ‘The Lord is the strength of my life’ can go on to say, ‘Of whom shall I be afraid?’”
The Reward of True Service
The Father is seeking servants who are eager to serve Him wholeheartedly, not merely go through the motions. A special reward awaits those who truly serve. One day, the Father will say: Matthew 25:23: “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!”
This promise reminds us that faithful service, no matter how small, is recognized and appreciated by the Father.
Trusting Christ Completely
True service begins with surrender. When we fully commit ourselves to God, our time, resources, and energy naturally follow. The example of the Macedonian believers shows us that service is not about what we possess, but about the condition of our hearts. Through surrender, we align ourselves with God’s will, which enables us to serve others with love and purpose.
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© Dr. H 2025
Dr H Reflections 