Topic: God Shaped You for Service [RICK WARREN Devotional 25 November 2024]

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God Shaped You for Service

“God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.”

Ephesians 2:10 (NCV)

God shaped you to serve him.

The Bible says, “God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing” (Ephesians 2:10 NCV).

God didn’t put you on this planet just to take up space. He has a purpose for your life. The talents you have are not for your benefit. God gave you your talents to benefit other people. That’s because God wired the universe so we would need each other—nobody has it all together.

In fact, before you were born, God decided what contribution he wanted you to make. And nobody else can be you. When you don’t serve God the way he intended for you to serve him, then the world misses out.

Another name for “good works” is “ministry.” Any time you use your talents and abilities to help somebody else, you are ministering to them. The Bible says in 1 Peter 4:10, “God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessings” (TLB). 

Did you know that when you serve other people, you’re also serving God? In fact, God says that any time you help somebody else, it’s like you’re doing it for him.

Jesus said, “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. . . . And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward” (Matthew 10:40, 42 NIV).

Talk It Over

• What unique talents and abilities has God given you? Make a list!
• Now think about the needs in your community. What are some specific ways you could meet those needs using your God-given talents and abilities?
• Matthew 10 tells you to welcome people and to offer cold water to those who need it. What people in your community need to be welcomed? Who needs a cup of cold water (or perhaps something else, like a hot meal or a ride to a doctor appointment)?

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