Welcome to my personal opinion!

How has your point of view been determined? On what do you base your belief system? What shapes your opinions?

All of us look at our world around us and interpret what we see based upon our most basic beliefs. This perspective is often referred to as our "worldview." We see what goes on in the world and our world view determines whether we think those things are good or bad, positive or negative. And that worldview also determines how we will react to everything that we encounter. So you see, it really is a matter of perspective.

Up front I will confess that I hold to what is known as a Biblical Worldview. My commitment to the Bible as being the Word of God, and my faith in the One revealed to us in that totally unique book and through His Holy Spirit has provided the lens through which I view the world around me.

So, if you choose to read what I have written there will likely be some things you will agree with and some which you will not. That will be determined by your own personal worldview.

My hope is that what I write will challenge you to better understand what you have chosen to base your worldview upon, and if it is not based on the unchanging Word of God, that you might become convinced, like I am convinced, that His Word is truth and serves to guide the believer through life's journey toward the "abundant life" Jesus promised in John 10:10.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

How is your serve?

As I have entered the "middle-aged" years there has been something of which I've taken notice. Many men and women my age come to this point in life and ask themselves the question, "What have I really accomplished in my life?" This phenomenon is sometimes characterized as moving from the drive to succeed to the search for significance. The closer we come to the grave the greater our desire that the epitaph on our tombstone might reflect that our life counted for something. Suddenly, dying "with the most toys" doesn't seem nearly as important!

In our look at the five purposes for which God created us, we now come to the fourth: You were shaped for serving God. Making our life count for something isn't just a goal we should hope for, it is in fact God's imperative that we add to this life, not just take from it. Paul explained this to the Ephesians when he wrote this to them . . . "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (2:10, NIV). Rick Warren makes four points which explain this matter of service:
1. You were created to serve God. Good deeds on our part are how we serve God, because when we serve the needs of our fellow man we are serving Him. God wants us to make a difference in the lives of the people around us.
2. You were saved to serve God. It is important to know that you are not made right with God (saved) by your service, but you were made right with God (saved) for service. Because of our gratitude to God for what He has done for us through Jesus Christ it is our joy to serve Him. "Because of God's great mercy. . . offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to His service" (Romans 12:1).
3. You are called to serve God. When you were called to salvation you were also called to service.
"You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you" (I Peter 2:9).
"Now you belong to Him . . . in order that we might be useful in the service of God" (Romans 7:4, TEV).
Every Christian is not only called to serve, they are gifted to serve. When you are saved the Holy Spirit presents you with a spiritual birthday gift, a special God-given ability that you are to use in serving others in the church in particular, but also those outside the church.
4. You are commanded to serve God. It isn't our choice whether or not we serve. Service is at the very heart of the Christian life. Jesus told his followers, "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, LB). Want to grow as a Christian? Give yourself away! Be a blessing! Life isn't about "serve us" but about "service."

"You were shaped for serving God." Shaped? Yes, everything God has given you in the way of talents, abilities, gifts, experiences, etc. has the purpose of preparing you for the ministry He has given you. He "shaped" you for service. It has been said, "What you are is God's gift to you; what you do with yourself is your gift to God." How do you discover your shape for ministy?
Spiritual Gifts - look at yourself honestly to determine what you are can do well and see how they compare to the lists of Spiritual Gifts found in Scripture (Ephesians 4:11, Romans 12:6-8, I Corinthians 12:8-10, I Corinthians 12:28-31).
Heart - What do you really enjoy doing the most? God gives you a special passion for some ministry in which you can glorify Him.
Abilities - These are talents that you were born with or have developed. Consider how you might use these things in service of God.
Personality - God gave you certain personality traits that helps determine how you can best serve Him. There are personality profiles that are helpful for understanding yourself and others.
Experiences - Everything you have experienced in life, good and bad, can be useful in serving God. Often having "been there" can give you a point of commonality with someone needing help and opens the door for you to connect with them.

When it was said that it is more blessed to give than receive, it refers to much more than just financial support. Being on the giving side in our relationships with family, fellow church members, or others, is the source of tremendous blessings. God rewards obedience, and it is clear that He created us to serve.
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