Dear friends,

The Scripture says in Ephesians 2:10, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”. 

It’s a remarkable statement about your purpose in this life. As Rick Warren writes, “You were made to make a contribution, not just to consume. God made you to make a difference. And what matters is not how long you live, but HOW you live. What matters is not the duration of your life, but the DONATION of your life." The Bible says we’re created to serve, we’re saved to serve, we’re gifted to serve, we’re formed to serve.  We’re commanded to serve God. 

We must always remember that our service does not earn our salvation. Salvation is the free gift of God to those who do not deserve it and cannot attain it. Our condition apart from God is too dire - we must be rescued by Jesus. Again Ephesians 2 tells us “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved…For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:4-5; 8-9)

Our service is the outworking of our salvation. It’s the fruit that comes from the root. It’s the product of our faith in Jesus Christ. It’s our gratitude for what we’ve been given. It’s the result of having the Holy Spirit within us. Service is the purpose of God for your life.

Have you ever wondered why, once you came to Christ, God didn’t simply whisk you away to heaven? It’s because God has a multifaceted purpose for you. On the one hand, He’s shaping you for eternity. He’s forming your life and your character for the future. And on the other God wants you to be His hands and feet in this world. He wants you to accomplish, through His strength and guidance, using the abilities, gifts and experiences He’s given you, the purposes He has for you. “You are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” That means we serve Him in what we do, and how we live, and what we say in the places to which God has called us.

One of the major ways we serve God is through sharing the Gospel with others. I believe this is one of the neglected parts of many Christian’s lives. It’s also one of the reasons churches stop growing and eventually close. We are unwilling to serve God by sharing the Gospel with others.

The very idea of sharing the Gospel can evoke fear and trembling within us. Or it conjures up caricatures of street corner preachers. I believe the Enemy uses that fear and those caricatures to inhibit our lives and to keep us from living into God’s purpose for us. That, and perhaps our own willful disobedience to Christ’s command to “Make disciples of all nations,” limits what God intends for our lives. We must dare to believe and live out the truth that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest news of all. And it is the power of God for salvation for those who believe.

Will you join me in seeking God’s purpose for your life? Will you look for ways to serve Him in the lives of others? And will you learn to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those around you? Start by praying. Ask God to give you his conviction. Seek what the Scripture says. And then pay attention to the opportunities before you and join God as His hands and feet and mouth in this world.

Blessings,
The Rt. Rev. Chris Warner