Monday, July 28, 2008

Saved For Service


Do you realize that the Lord saved you for service? Your salvation isn’t all about you. It’s about God using you to help spread the gospel. EVERYONE is called to minister the gospel not just the teachers, preachers, and missionaries. All of us! It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives helping others. (Ephesians 2:10) The Lord says “Before I made you in your mother’s womb I chose you. Before you were born I set you apart for a special work.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

Jesus said to his followers, “Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone.” (Mark 16:15) The Good News is the Gospel message of salvation. Some us will plant the seed, some will water the plant, but God will make the plant grow. (1 Corinthians 3:5-6) We must offer our selves as living sacrifices to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. (Romans 12:1)

Jesus said, “Your attitude must be like my own, for I, the Messiah, did not come to be served, but to serve and to give my life.” (Matthew 20:28) We have to warn the wicked. We have to tell our loved ones about Jesus Christ. We are running out of time! We are in the end days! If you know that someone is on their way to hell and you don’t share the gospel with them then their blood is on your hands. I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom; Preach the Word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage people. (2 Timothy 4:1-2)

We are not called to be selfish pew warmers. We are not called to be Sunday and Wednesday Christians going to church to get our little feel good fix. We want God to give us a word. We want God to bless US. What is that? What are we doing? One day God will compare how much time we spent helping ourselves with how much time we spent helping others. Each of us will stand personally before the judgment seat of God…Yes, each of us will have to give a personal account to God. Jesus said, “If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live. The truth is that God will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves. (Romans 14:10,12, Mark 8:35, Romans 2:8)

We will discover through serving the Lord and others the real meaning of our lives. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of Christ’s body. This makes you more significant because of what you are a part of. God has blessed you with spiritual gifts so that you can more effectively serve others.

Charles Spurgeon, also know as the “Prince of Preachers”, once said, “Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that.” As Christian we must be concerned about the salvation of souls. Our love for each other proves that we have gone from death to life. So let us be useful in service to God. (1 John 3:14, Romans 7:4)

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My God is Faithful!

My God is Faithful!
Psalm 40:1-3 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.He lifted me out of the slimy pit,out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.