Notes of Faith July 28, 2026
Friendly Places
As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.
1 Chronicles 28:9
A recent survey found the top friendliest small businesses in America. The results included a candle company in South Dakota, a chocolate company in Minneapolis, and a bookstore in Montana.1 These enterprises had gone above and beyond in serving their clientele. The survey didn’t include churches, but wouldn’t we expect local churches to be the friendliest places town?
That depends on you and me. How important to know God and to serve Him with a loyal heart and a willing mind. When we serve others outwardly, it strengthens our inner being. And it not only glorifies God, but it also benefits us as Christians.
If you are not serving, you are not living and nourishing your inward being. Consider places in your church where you can serve, and volunteer with a willing heart.
One of the principal rules of religion is, to lose no occasion of serving God. And since he is invisible to our eyes, we are to serve him in our neighbor.
John Wesley
1Irving Betesh, “Study Reveals the Top 150 Friendliest Small Businesses in the U.S.,” Advance Funds Network, February 19, 2026.
Matt 4:10
it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'"
Matt 6:24
24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
Col 3:23-24
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Luke 12:37
It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them
Love God. Love others. Serve God. Serve others. There is coming a day when our Lord and Savior will serve us as we recline at His table. May we serve Him today, and all those that He places around us!
Pastor Dale