Bless Others (Oct. 17)

Read: Ephesians 2:8-10

Service is initiated by God for accomplishing His purposes, in and through us - not to earn us salvation.

Every believer is called to a life of service. Knowing we will one day be accountable to Him for all that we have done, and having the desire to follow Jesus’ perfect example, we should want to invest time and energy in serving one another.

This week we will look at six different aspects of serving.

But before we begin looking at this vital core value, it’s important for us to remember that service, or serving, does not equal salvation. Serving is not required for salvation, it does not culminate in salvation, but it is because of our salvation. In Ephesians, Paul writes that “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this (faith) is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.” (NIV) Faith alone through grace alone. Even our saving faith is an undeserved gift from God!  In Titus 3:4-5 we read, “But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done, but according to His mercy”. (NASB)

So, we know that none of our serving, not any of our good deeds has “tipped the scale” and given us salvation. Salvation is a gift, and only received through faith in Jesus Christ. His death on the cross paid our penalty for sin and His resurrection has given us eternal life, salvation.

One last reminder as we go into this week’s ministry essential of serving, there are so many places in Scripture that remind us that we do nothing of our own initiative. The good, kind, helpful, acts of service that we do, things we think we came up with, were actually planned by God in eternity past for us to do! “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus, to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10, NIV) As we do serve one another, we can’t take any credit for those things - the glory belongs to the Lord. “Yet not I, but through Christ in me.”

Action Step: Read and meditate on these passages:

  • Galatians 2:20
  • 1 John 4:12
  • Philippians 2:13
  • Hebrews 13:21

Prayer: Father, remind me that any good that I do only comes from You and not my initiative at all. Thank you for completely paying for my eternal salvation.  Remind me that none of my serving should be done to earn Your favor, but rather be done out of love and devotion to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Author: Renee Calvin