God redeemed you so you could do his “holy work.”

You were saved to serve God.

The Bible says, “It is he who saved us and chose us for his holy work, not because we deserved it but because that was his plan.”

In God’s kingdom, you have a place, a purpose, a role, and a function to fulfill.
This gives your life great significance and value.

Through salvation our past has been forgiven, our present is given meaning, and our future is secured. In light of these incredible benefits Paul concluded, “Because of God’s great mercy . . . Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service.” 6 The apostle John taught that our loving service to others shows that we are truly saved. He said, “Our love for each other proves that we have gone from death to life.” 7 If I have no love for others, no desire to serve others, and I’m only concerned about my needs, I should question whether Christ is really in my life.

 A “non-serving Christian” is a contradiction in terms. The Bible says, “He saved us and called us to be his own people, not because of what we have done, but because of his own purpose.” 10 Peter adds, “You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you.” 11 Anytime you use your God-given abilities to help others, you are fulfilling your calling.

The Bible says, “Now you belong to him . . . in order that we might be useful in the service of God.” 12
How much of the time are you being useful in the service of God?

Impression without expression causes depression.

Study without service leads to spiritual stagnation.

The old comparison between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea is still true.



Galilee is a lake full of life because it takes in water but also gives it out.
In contrast, nothing lives in the Dead Sea because, with no outflow, the lake has stagnated.

Service is the pathway to real significance.
It is through ministry that we discover the meaning of our lives.
The Bible says, “Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body.” 18
As we serve together in God’s family, our lives take on eternal importance.
Paul said, “I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less . . . because of what you are a part of.” 19

God wants to use you to make a difference in his world.

He wants to work through you.

The Bible says “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)


Question to Consider: What is holding me back from accepting God’s call to serve him?

Abraham was old, Jacob was insecure, Leah was unattractive, Joseph was abused, Moses stuttered, Gideon was poor, Samson was codependent, Rahab was immoral, David had an affair and all kinds of family problems, Elijah was suicidal, Jeremiah was depressed, Jonah was reluctant, Naomi was a widow, John the Baptist was eccentric to say the least, Peter was impulsive and hot-tempered, Martha worried a lot, the Samaritan woman had several failed marriages, Zacchaeus was unpopular, Thomas had doubts, Paul had poor health, and Timothy was timid.

That is quite a variety of misfits, but God used each of them in his service.
He will use you, too, if you stop making excuses.