Made New to Serve

June 4, 2019

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:17-20

When we receive Christ as our Savior, we are made new. We are new creations but not new trophies. We are not trophies to sit on a shelf and simply look good. We are given a purpose; a purpose to serve the world.

Spiritual stagnation and lack of growth occurs when we are satisfied with simply being saved. When people think that the goal of salvation is just to get a ticket to heaven, they miss out on true life. Salvation is simply the beginning of a great journey of adventurous service. When we are interested in comfort and convenience, when we want what Jesus does FOR us but aren’t nearly as interested in what Jesus wants to do IN and THROUGH us, we miss out on blessing and growth. Growth and blessing come through serving.

We are called to be reconcilers. Each of us have been given gifts by God, and our purpose is to use them to serve others and reconcile them to Him. As we serve with our gifts, being His ambassadors in the world God is calling to Himself, we can help create a culture that blesses. We serve inside the church and outside the church. We use our gifts and get involved in business, the arts, education, science, healthcare, athletics, government, media, medicine, military. As we serve in those ways, we speak a language that can be understood that calls people to healing and life.

Your purpose and my purpose, now that we know Jesus, is to be an ambassador. We are messengers for Christ, sharing HIS message through acts of service and love. They grow, we grow, and the world is changed. God’s purpose in us and through us is fulfilled.

• Do you know what gifts God has given you?
• What opportunities do you have to use your gifts that you are currently involved in?
• What opportunities do you have that you aren’t using? Why?
• Pray: "Jesus, You saved me because You love me, but You also saved me because You love others too. My purpose, my growth, and my joy will be fulfilled as I accept your invitations to serve. Please give me clarity to know Your voice when You are speaking, and wisdom to arrange my life in order to be able to follow You completely. Amen.”