Prepared to work!

Here we go, talking about works again...

Still reading in Ephesians, in chapter 4 today. One of the things I love about Scripture is that the Holy Spirit points out something new each time we read it. I've read through this passage more times than I can count, but I got something out of it today that I haven't before. In verses 11-12, I've always focused on the fact that we each have unique spiritual gifts, and each have our own individual focus. Today, though, the phrase "to prepare God's people for works of service" is what hit me like a ton of bricks.

This goes back to my post from Thursday, on Ephesians 2:10. We each have a job to do! Just like we each have our own unique set of spiritual gifts, and our own unique purpose, we also each have our own unique "works of service" that we are intended by God to do. That's part of WHY He gives us those spiritual gifts in the first place! Of course, ultimately, our purpose is to bring Him glory, but one of the ways we are to do this is by serving others. Those works that I mentioned a few days ago, that we are supposed to do after we are saved, include works of service. What that service work looks like depends on you. Pray about it. Ask God where He wants you to serve. That won't be enough, though, because here comes the hard part...

Once you know what that service is, you have to go do it. Some times it will come easily, out of joy, and it will be a pure act of love and not feel like work at all. Other times, though, it will be scary, and you will face opposition and persecution. That, my friend, is the devil, trying to stop you from serving. Remember the words of Jesus in John 15:18, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." Where do you think that hatred comes from? It comes from the evil one, who wants everyone else he can get to burn with him for the rest of eternity. Stay strong! Remember something else Jesus said: "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:11-12)

Saved for works

Many of us are familiar with the passage in Ephesians that says "For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift - not from works, so that no one can boast." (Eph 2:8-9) And it's so true. There is nothing we can *do* to earn salvation. Nothing we do could ever be enough to pay the death penalty for our sins.

Don't miss the next verse, though... "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do." (Eph 2:10) In other words, once we're saved, that's not the end of our time or mission here on earth. We still have work to do!

Remember that we aren't saved by our works. Rather, we work because of our salvation. Find that work that you are called to do. Do every bit of it for God's glory. "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God." (1 Cor. 10:31)

Hilarem datorem diligit Deus

Hilarem datorem diligit Deus

That, sadly, is one of the very few phrases I remember from the Latin course I took in high school.  At least it’s not something silly like “The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.”  Oh wait, that was from typing.  Anyway...

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying before: “God loves a cheerful giver.”  It is actually (no surprise here) from a passage in 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 about generous giving (the last phrase of verse 7, to be precise).  While this passage is primarily considered to be about monetary gifts, I say that it is really so much more than that!

Is money the only thing we ever give?  No!  We give so much more, whether we realize it or not!  We give our time, we give our resources, and we give our experience, just to name a few.  When we go to church and teach a class or help in the nursery or work on the sound board or even make a pot of coffee, we are giving.  When we go out in the community and volunteer our time at a hospital or nursing home, we are giving.  When we are standing in line at the grocery store with an overflowing buggy and let the tired and harried looking young woman who walks up behind us with a baby on her hip and two more children behind her take her one pack of diapers and check out ahead of us, we are giving.

WHAT we give is not the point.  HOW we give it is.  If we do it with neon lights, making sure that everybody sees what a great thing we’re doing, then we are doing it to honor ourselves.  It is not truly intended to help the other person, but to make ourselves look good.  When we seek to honor ourselves, there is no space left to honor God.

Another name for this “giving” is “service.”  When we give of ourselves, we are serving.  This service how we show God’s love to those around us, sometimes without even saying a word.

So get out there, look at those around you at home, at church, and in the community, and ask yourself, “What would God have me do to serve this person?”

Do it quietly.

Do it with joy.