God Shaped Me for Service

In review of Ephesians 2:10 it says, ”God made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing” (NCV).

Today’s verse comes from Ephesians 2:8-10. In it I’m told that because of his kindness, I have been saved through trusting Christ. And even trusting is not of myself; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good I have done, so I can’t take any credit for it. It is God himself who has made me what I am and given me a new life from Christ Jesus; and long ago he planned that I should spend my life helping others.

When I'm given a gift, I don't say how much do I owe you, rather an appropriate response is "thank you". However, from time to time I still feel an obligation to try to work my way to God. Because my salvation and even my faith are gifts, I should respond with gratitude, praise and joy. I became his child through God's unmerited grace, not as the result of any effort, ability, intelligent choice, or even act of service on my part. However, out my gratitude for this free gift, I need to seek to help and serve others with kindness, love, and gentleness, and not merely to please myself. While no action or work I can do can help me obtain or maintain salvation, God's intention is that my salvation will result in acts of service. I am not saved merely for my own benefit, but to serve Christ and build up the church. I am God's masterpiece. My salvation is something only God can do. It is his powerful, creative work in me. If God considers me his masterpiece, I dare not treat myself or others with disrespect or as inferior work.

Given this, it’s clear that God shaped me to serve him. The Bible says, “God made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing” (Ephesians 2:10 NCV).

Before I was born, God had already decided what contribution he wanted me to make with my life. God didn’t put me on this planet just to take up space, to use resources, and to die. He put me here to serve him by serving others.

And nobody else can be me. If I don’t serve God the way he intended for me to serve him, then the world misses that part of the jigsaw puzzle.

Another name for good works is ministry. Anytime I use my talents and abilities to help somebody else, I’m actually ministering to them. The Bible says in 1 Peter 4:10, “God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessings” (TLB).

The talents I have are not for my benefit. God gave me talents for the benefit of others. That’s why nobody’s got it all together. God wired the universe so that we would need each other.

When I get to heaven, I’m going to love God, so he wants me to practice now. I’m going to love other people in heaven, so he wants me to practice now. I’m going to grow spiritually in heaven, so he wants me to practice now. And I’m going to serve God in heaven, so he wants me to practice now.

I serve God by serving others. On Earth it’s impossible to serve God directly. The only way I can serve God on Earth is by serving others. So anytime I help somebody else, God says it’s like I’m doing it for him. I’m practicing on Earth what I’m going to do for eternity.

Bottom Line:

Because of his grace and kindness, he saves us. It's nothing that we did or could do. He has a plan for each of us for good and to help others.

What this means to me:

Because of His kindness and grace, he has saved me. This is not a result of anything I did or can do, so I can't take any credit for it. God planned for me to do good things and spend my life helping others.

In summary, God has shaped me for service. I have been saved through my trust in Christ, and Jesus’ sacrifice and leadership is God's gift to me. He has shaped me and it is His plan that I would spend my life/shape helping others. My love and service to others is practice for what I'll be doing in eternity.

This morning I want to take a few minutes to thank you and show my gratitude for your gift to me. I want to use my life for your purposes. I pray for your help to allow me to focus on this and not allow myself to be distracted by the worries of this life. Help me to be a leader who can serve and guide others. Help me think clearly about the multitude of tasks before me. Help me to sort them clearly and to then guide and direct others in those tasks. Also Father I was for your wisdom and guidance in handling people in a loving and caring manner. I know that I need to show appreciation and make people feel valued. I pray these things in your Son Jesus name, Amen!

Removing and Replacing My Old Habits

In review of 1 Timothy 4:15 it says, “Practice these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress (GW).

Today’s verse comes from 1 Timothy 4:6-16 where Paul is teaching Timothy how to be a good servant in Christ. In particular verse 15 says to remember these things and think about them, so everyone can see how well you are doing.

I’m reminded that highly skilled and talented athletes lose their abilities if their muscles aren't toned by constant use. Likewise, I'll lose my spiritual gifts if I don't put them into practice. My gifts and talents are improved by use or exercise, but failing to use them will cause them to just waste away from lack of practice and nourishment. I need to consider the gifts and abilities has God given me and whether I using them regularly to serve God and others.

While I was given a brand-new nature at the moment of my conversion (devoting myself to following Christ), I still have old habits, patterns, and practices that need to be removed and replaced.

Let go of the fears that keep me from growing. While the truth will set me free, it will often make me miserable first. The fear of what I might discover if I honestly face my character defects can keep us living in the prison of denial. Only as God is allowed to shine the light of his truth on my faults, failures, and hang-ups can I begin to work on them. This is why I cannot grow without a humble, teachable attitude.

I should not base my identity around any of my “defects.” Don’t say, “It’s just like me to be . . .” or “It’s just the way I am.” The unconscious worry is that if I let go of my habit, my hurt, or my hang-up, who will I be? This fear can definitely slow down my growth.

Good habits take time to develop. My character is the sum total of my habits. I can’t claim to have integrity unless it is my habit to always be honest. A spouse who is faithful most of the time is not faithful at all! My habits define my character.

Remember: I need to practice every day the habits that will make me more like Christ.

“Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress” (1 Timothy 4:15 GW).

Bottom Line:

Be diligent; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your example and progress.

What this means to me:

Diligently gives these things my attention and put them into practice, so that I can be an example that others will notice.

In summary, If I don't put my skills or gifts into practice I'll lose them. No matter what, I still have old habits, patterns, and practices that need to be removed and replaced. Good habits take time to develop. My character will be the sum total of all of my habits. And those define my character. I need to practice every day the habits that will make me more like Christ.

Today’s verse is a reminder of the high values I want to live my life by; Integrity, humility, generosity and purpose. I need to be humble enough to recognize my shortcomings and willingness to adjust my habits. My habits speak greatly to my integrity, as the sum total of my habits make up my character. Thank you Father for these words from you today and how they speak into my life.

I pray this morning that Father, you will help me be conscience of old bad habits and to repent (turn-around) from them, adopting the character of Jesus and allowing my life to be used by you. I also ask you today for continued wisdom and guidance to handle the work in front of my. Help me to be a leader that makes a difference and others want to follow. Help me fill my interactions with grace and love. These things I pray in your Son Jesus name, Amen!

God Wants to Grow Me

In review of Romans 8:29 it says, ”From the very beginning God decided that those who came to him—and all along he knew who would—should become like his Son” (TLB).

Today’s verse comes from Romans 8:18-30 where Paul tells me about my future glory. Yet what I suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to me later. Besides, if I already had something, I wouldn't need to hope for it. But if I look forward to something I don't have yet, then I must wait patiently and confidently for it. God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to his purpose. For God knew me in advance, and he chose me to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn around many brothers and sisters. And having called me, he gave me the right standing with himself. And having given me right standing, he gives me his glory.

God's ultimate goal for me is to make me more like Christ. As I become more and more like Christ, I discover my true self, the person I was created to be. I can become more like Christ by reading and heading the Word, by studying Christ life on earth through the Gospels, by spending time in prayer, by being filled with his Spirit, and by doing his work in the world.

God's purpose for me was not an afterthought; it was settled before the foundation of the world. I am to serve and honor God. God has always known me and his love is eternal. His wisdom and power are supreme. He will guide and protect me until I stand in his presence.

So God created me to become like Christ. He wants me to grow up spiritually!

The Bible says, “From the very beginning God decided that those who came to him—and all along he knew who would—should become like his Son” (Romans 8:29 TLB). God’s goal has always been to make me like himself—not to become a god but to become godly, with godly character.

The things I go through happen to help me grow up spiritually. Everything in life is designed to help me grow up spiritually—the good, the bad, the ugly, the stuff I bring on myself, and the stuff that others do to me. God is not the author of evil. But God can bring good out of bad things.

Instead of asking, “why is this happening?” ask, “God, what do you want me to learn from this?” Every situation in life will either make me bitter or better. I choose how I will respond to it.

Every problem has a purpose, and the purpose is to help me grow up spiritually to be more like Jesus Christ.

If my purpose is to grow up and become like Jesus, what is Jesus like? The Bible calls the fruit of the Spirit. It says, “He will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23 TLB). These are the qualities God wants to build in my life.

God teaches me these qualities by putting me in the exact opposite situation. He teaches me love by putting me around unlovely people. He teaches me joy in the middle of grief. God teaches me peace in the middle of chaos. He teaches me patience at the DMV!

God will teach me all of these qualities throughout my life—and it will take the rest of my life. It’s a process. He will use all kinds of situations in my life to help me develop spiritual depth and become more like Christ.

Bottom Line:

God knew in advance and chose me to become like his Son.

What this means to me:

God had already chosen me and has set me apart to become like his Son.

In summary, what I experience (suffer) today, is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to me later I must wait patiently and confidently for it. God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to his purpose. God's ultimate goal is to make me more like his Son (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.). Therefore the things that I go through happen to help grow me. My response should not be why is this happening, but what do you want me to learn from it. God teaches me these qualities by putting me in the exact opposite situation. It's all a process and will not end until I'm with him in eternity.

Father thank you for the reminder today that what I experience and the challenges I have are here to grow and train me. I need to ask what do you want me to learn from it. Given this, I pray Father that you will grant me wisdom and guidance in those things I am responsible for. Help me become a servant leader who can make a difference. Help me respond rightly in relationships. Help me develop the fruit of the Spirit. In your Son Jesus name I ask this, amen!

Don’t Just Learn from the Bible; Remember It!

In review of Proverbs 4:20-22 it says, ”Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body” (NLT).

Today’s passage is from Proverbs 4:20-22, where It tells me to listen carefully to what I'm being taught. I’m to keep it in mind and let it penetrate deep within me, for it will bring true life.

The Bible says this about wisdom in Proverbs 22:17-18: “Listen, and I will teach you what the wise have said. Study their teachings, and you will be glad if you remember them and can quote them” (GNT). They are four key verbs presented here: listen, study, remember, and quote. Those are marks of wisdom.

I can’t just learn something and become wiser; I’ve got to remember it. And I can’t just remember it; I’ve got to reinforce it. Because if I don’t remember and reinforce it, I’ll end up needing to learn the same lesson over and over.

I need to retain it, in order to remember it, so that I can review it, and apply it as needed.

I often think, “I can’t remember anything!” But in reality, I can, as I will always remember what’s important to me. When the truth becomes important, I should work to remember and reinforce it. Then allow it to change my life.

In summary I need to learn from the Bible and remember It to make it applicable. This means I need to not only listen, but study, remember and be able to quote it.

Father this morning I asked you for your continued wisdom and guidance as I work through the details of activities I need to accomplish and lead others to accomplish. There are some personnel issues that I also need to work through and resolve. I ask for your energy and understanding to help me work with those involved to come up with appropriate actions.

Bottom Line:

Listen and remember, let it penetrate deep for it brings life and healing.

What this means to me:

Listen carefully to what I'm being taught. Keep it in mind, let it penetrate deep within me, for they will bring a true and meaningful health.