Serving at the Masters Pleasure.

Matt. 6:24
Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If anyman will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Ever since I was young, I have been amazed by Presidential appointees who would
often say that they serve at the Presidents pleasure. Back then, I saw this as an act
of humility and reverence towards the President. It was a recognition that since
they were appointed into power, their performance and existence is dependent on
nothing else but the pleasure of the President.
When I surrendered my life to the Lord, I came across this wonderful verse and
realized that serving the Lord was nothing different. I realized I was serving at the
Masters Pleasure. But what does it really mean to serve at Gods pleasure. The
Lord has given an explicit command letting those who would like to follow Him know
how they should do it. All Christians are appointed, specifically ordained to serve.
We are predestinated and chose by God. Some people think that the call is only
for those who commit their lives to the full-time service. However, we must
consider that the Apostle Paul, when talking to the church in Rome, besought
everyone (not only those who would be preachers, or pastors, or teachers) to be
living sacrifices because such is our reasonable service to God.
Romans 12:1
12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present
your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service.

But how do we effectively serve God? Are there any terms or standards given by
God by which we must conform? According to Jesus, if we want to be His disciple
we must:

First, Let him deny himself This means Self-Denial.

1 Cor. 9:27
27

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any
means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

God want us to subject our own pleasure and seek His. We do not serve according
to our own terms. A servant considers himself to be a property of his master. He
knows no rights except the grace extendd to him by His master. We have been
bought by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. God gave His only begotten Son to die
on the Cross to be a ransom for our sins. The message is clear, we have been
bought with a price. We must realize that because of this, we do not have any other
option but to seek His pleasure.
Let us try asking this questions, whenever we serve God, who is pleased? The Bible
says that in whatever we do we should do all for the glory of God. In our daily life,
who is magnified? Who is made happy? Self-denial means denying the joy of your
mortal flesh, and seeking things which please God.
This was very clear in the statement of the Apostle Paul:
Acts 20:24
24

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself,
so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have
received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
He considered his life not dear unto himself so that he may find joy. This is a clearly
ironic statement for most of us. This is contrary to how the world pictures joy. We
have been taught by the World to go after our dreams or go after the desires of our
heart. This, however, is not the will of God. God wants us to find true joy, joy that
lasts for eternity.
Second, God wants us to be responsible. According to the verse, He wants us to
Take up his cross... The Cross speaks of responsibility. Ever since Christ was born,
He knew very well that He would die on the Cross to die for the sins of men. He was
not distracted. He was not moved. Jesus Christ knew very well that He was about
to do His Fathers business:

Luke 2:49
49

And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must
be about my Father's business?

Each of us has been called by God and appointed into a specific area of service. We
have been ordained to bear fruit. That is our responsibility. God has ordained us
and commanded us to abide in order for us to be fruit-bearing and effective
Christians.

John 15:16
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye
should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that
whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Moreover, God himself gave each and every one gifts which we should use for His
glory.
Romans 12:6-8
6

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us,
whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7

Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with

simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with
cheerfulness.

Clearly then, there is no reason for any Christian not to be responsible. We have
been called, ordained and appointed for service. More than this privilege, God has
also given us the necessary equipping in order for us to perform our responsibility.
But more than this, we should also learn to obey Him. The Challenge for us is to
Follow me. This means God want us to conform to him. To follow Him closely.
Just like appointed Cabinet Members, we should realize that we are Alter Egos of
Christ. What we do, what we say and how we think should be the same as that of
our Master. As the President appoints his staff, he surely chooses from the people in
whom he has confidence and trust. He carefully selects and appoints those who
share the same objective as he does. The same is true with God. God, as He has
appointed and ordained us according to His sovereign will expects total conformity
and abiding in His Word. Hence the following verses are explicit:
Romans 8:29
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the
image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
2 Cor. 3:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are
changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the
Lord.

Furthermore, no amount of goodwill will justify disobedience. No matter how noble

our intentions, if it is against the will of God, it does not please Him. This was clear
in the case of King Saul when God showed his displeasure on his intention to have
an acceptable sacrifice, because he disobeyed an explicit command:

1 Sam. 15:22
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and
sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than
sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

May we have a true appreciation of the calling we have. We have been chosen,
among so many, to be a part of those who may serve Him. May the guidelines and
standards given by God be effectively seen in us as we truly serve God at His
pleasure.