Hymns: The Longer I Serve Him

 

I enjoyed many blessings growing up in the church of my childhood. I didn’t recognize them at the time, of course, because I was a typical child, caught up in the naivete of it all. But I see and appreciate them now.

            One of the things I have come to appreciate so much was the rich heritage of men and women who served the Lord and weren’t afraid to talk about it in front of those of us still learning what that meant.

            Our church had a time of sharing each week, and there were a handful of older people who could always be counted upon to stand and share something meaningful God had done. Sometimes they just affirmed how much they loved Him. It was somewhat of a game to me back then – guessing who would stand that week or the order in which they would pop up from their pews to say something.

            But I have never forgotten it. I can still see their faces and hear their voices when I think back to those days in that big sanctuary with its red carpet and pews.

            I don’t remember any of them specifically mentioning this particular song, but their words spoke to its message.

            It shouldn’t surprise you that the song is a Gaither piece. They are among my favorites, and I don’t apologize for it!

The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows
The more that I love Him, more love He bestows
Each Day is like Heaven, my heart overflows
The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.

            The truth of it is…I still feel much like the twenty—year old kid who just finished growing up in that church. But I’m just a few years older than that now, and I’m far enough down the road of faith that I can affirm that these words are true.

            Has every moment of serving Jesus been picturesque and easy? Absolutely not. There have been hard sections of the journey. But even in those, it has been sweet to belong to Him. In some of them, I’m not sure how I would have made it through the season if I hadn’t been walking with Him.

            Just yesterday, in fact, as Ryan and I drove to church, I felt the overwhelm of our current season settling in. I was sharing my heart with Ryan about how I was trying so hard to take all things in stride, but sometimes it’s not so easy. And even as I said that, I looked over, and the beginnings of a spectacular sunrise peeked over the horizon. A calm came over me, and I realized that once again, the sweetness grew like a sunrise.

            I can’t fully explain to you how it works. I can only affirm it does. This life I am living with Him is sweet and full of a completeness I don't understand. It is overwhelming in the most beautiful of ways. 

            Life isn’t always easy. But it’s absolutely true that the longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.