Introduction.
What hinders us from offering effective service?

It is God’s will that we come to Him and serve. This is His purpose for which we were created and the reason why we are here on earth.

But in serving God, there will always be obstructions and hindrances

Readings
Ephesians 2:10 Whom will I send?
Isaiah 1:8
Luke 9:57-62

In Ephesians 2:10, we are reminded by the Word of God that says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

We were shaped for a purpose, not to consume life but to contribute to life, namely our spiritual life. Our life is characterized not by how long we live but how we live for Christ who loved us and gave Himself for us (Gal 2:20).

Now, if God expects us to serve Him, He will equip us to do that. We are His“workmanship, created in Jesus Christ unto good works,” ie God shaped us for the purpose of serving Him. He gave us spiritual gifts, a heart, abilities, personality, and experiences.

God expects us to use all of these when we serve Him. None of us has those five qualities in exactly the same proportion.

God did that so that each of us would have a unique place of service that was tailored just for us. So let us examine our hearts whether we have conveniently stopped serving the Lord.

In Luke 9:57-62 we get THREE hindrances of serving God.

1. THE DANGER OF EASE AND COMFORT. v57

It isn’t a lack of abilities or resources that hinders us from serving God.

We are just too comfortable, and when opportunity knocks on the door to serve Him we conveniently hang a “Do Not Disturb” sign on our hearts.

We turn away from God and service to Him.

2.THE DANGER OF PROCRASTINATION. v59

Procrastination is the postponing of events.

We should not lay before our Lord and tell him that until our children are grown up or until our careers are established, then we serve Him

But Jesus says, “Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.” Jesus is asking the man and us to rethink our priorities and to act with immediate decisiveness to serve Him.

3. THE DANGER OF A DIVIDED HEART. 

Jesus is the reason for our living. Elisha in 1 Kings 19:19-21, whereby he went home to make a radical break with his family in order to follow the prophet, Elijah.

Jesus is the reason for our living. The Lord has blessed us with a family and a job that we might not be pulled away from serving Him, but to be constrained by His love to serve Him readily.

CONCLUSION.

It is always easy to retreat from God’s service when things get tough in life. We must realize that service to Christ is a mandate that God wants us to do, as seen in Ephesians 2:10.

Whether you are young or old, in whatever stage of life you are in, let us not fall into the danger of ease and comfort, procrastination and of a divided heart.

Humbly come before the Lord and say LORD HERE I AM, SEND ME!!!

Be willing to let go of the past.No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.”