By Rebecca Thackeray
Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.’
Ephesians 3:7-8
Hate to break it to you, we are all called to serve. This might look slightly different among the saints, but an important way we serve the Father is by serving others, following His commandments, and meeting other’s needs before our own. We are to help and to work. Are you filled with joy or dread at the thought of the call to work, to go? There is good news, God has equipped us. By His grace, He has given us the strength, the discipline, and the resilience to serve Him with joy-filled and contented hearts. Peter calls everybody to ‘use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms’ (1 Peter 4:10). This is grace in action. He calls us to be faithful stewards, people who take on the responsibility to serve.
The best example of the faithful servant is our Lord Jesus. He spent time with the outcasts of society; heal the sick; speak truth to those who wanted to hear. He shared His food, but ultimately, His body was broken and His blood was shed for the forgiveness of our sins. As a response to the gift of life and salvation through His grace alone, He gave His disciples a commission: to preach the gospel, to make disciples, and to baptise them. But they were not sent to do this with their own strength, Jesus adds, ‘Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’ (Matthew 28:20). Yes, this is a God who calls, but He is also a God who equips His children. All His children.
No matter your history or previous life choices before knowing Christ, He renews and restores, bestowing grace upon grace to all His people. Take Paul, for example, an ambitious and proud Jew who made it his mission to persecute the Church. He was transformed by the power and grace of Christ. He didn’t just repent and carry on about his day, he put his conviction into action, recognising with a humble heart that he was underserving of God’s grace. He was called to preach the gospel to the Gentiles and due to his obedience, and by the grace of God, Paul became a significant piece in the building of the early church.
God loves and calls His children to follow Him with obedience, blessing us with all that we need to pursue and serve Him. So, let’s go out with joy, acknowledging that we have been saved by His grace to go!
Ask: Having persecuted the church, how much do you think Paul would have appreciated the grace to serve Christ?
Seek: In what way has God uniquely called you to serve Him?
Knock: Heavenly Father, thank You that You have saved me from the condemnation of my sins and that You have called me to follow You. Thank You, God, that it is by Your power that You strengthen me to serve you. I pray that You will reveal how I can serve You best. In Jesus' name, amen.
(Upper Photo by Lefteris kallergis on Unsplash)
(Inner Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash)
