SERVICE: MADE ALIVE IN CHRIST TO DO GOOD

Daily Scripture (Read Ephesians 2:1-10)

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10

Daily Devotional—Service: Made Alive in Christ to Do Good

What motivates you to serve others? Is it guilt or social pressure? Is it love or compassion? Is it gratitude for what God has saved you from or the amazing transformation that has happened in your life as a result of His grace? Perhaps a bit of all of the above. I must confess, I am not naturally motivated to serve others I don’t know, and especially if it requires regular one-way giving on my part. I’d much rather stay comfortable and take care of my own needs or the needs of my friends and family. I easily forget how much God has done despite my unworthiness and the incredible amount of undeserved blessings He has already poured out in my life.

How wonderful to know that God created good works for me to do even before I was born (regardless of my motivation)! I would hate to miss them because I was out of sync with God’s voice and will for my life. I recently watched “Flywheel”, a Christian film about a man who slowly drifted away from God and began to live more and more for himself. He came to a point were he realized that every area of his life was messed up or dead because Christ was no longer Lord of his life. As he recommitted his business and relationships to the Lord, God blessed him and gave him opportunities to serve God. He repaid people he had cheated, and just in time that enabled a lady to pay rent after losing her job.

God has good works for us to do, sometimes in spite of ourselves. Let’s be eager to walk well with the Lord and seek to do good wherever He leads us. There is no greater joy than knowing you are partnering in God’s work in the lives of others. It brings such joy to the soul!

For The Team:

• What motivates you to serve others?
• What interferes with a life of service?
• Why is this message of service so different from the message of our culture?
• What is the relationship between your uniqueness as a person and a life of service?

Pray:

• Pray for a spirit of eagerness, that Team Nicaragua will walk well with the Lord and seek to do good wherever He leads them.
• Pray for humility among all of the team members so that there would be a willingness to do any and all assigned tasks.

Jesus throws down the dividing prejudices of nationality and teaches universal love, without distinction of race, merit, or rank. A man’s neighbour is everyone that needs help.
John C. Geikie