INTRODUCTION

Jacob made an agreement with Laban to serve him in exchange for Rachel’s hand in marriage. His tenure of service was filled with great difficulties. Not only was the service itself hard work, but his service was marked with change and troubles. No doubt Jacob could have bemoaned these difficulties, but instead the Bible says that the seven years of service “seemed unto him but a few days.” How could Jacob give such testimony when we know that those were seven arduous years of labour? The Bible explains that he made it through those difficult days “for the love he had to her.” Our love for the Saviour ought to parallel and even exceed Jacob’s love for Rachel. Similar to Jacob’s determination to serve, we too have a purpose. At times, our service for the Lord may seem filled with great difficulties, but a deep and genuine love for the Saviour will make one’s service seem “but a few days.”

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): Paul suffered many things because of his service to God (2 Corinthians 11:23-27 [23] Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. [24] Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. [25] Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; [26] In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; [27] In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
  See All...). His love for God caused him to look on his suffering as a “light affliction, which is but for a moment” (2 Corinthians 4:17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
  See All...). Oh, that we had a similar kind of love for the Lord (Acts 21:13Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
  See All...)!
• (For everyone): Are God’s commandments grievous to you? Sometimes our service may be difficult, but our love for the Lord should keep His commandments from being grievous (1 John 5:3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
  See All...).
• Do you often feel like your service to God is difficult? Do you find yourself complaining about the sacrifices you have made for the Lord? Why do you think this is?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to help you serve Him by love.
• Ask Him to give you a love for others.

HYMN

WE'LL WORK TILL JESUS COMES

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