Purpose 5: You were made for a Mission

Day36 - Made for a Mission

In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world. (John 17:18)

God is at work in the world, and he wants you to join him. This assignment is called your mission. God wants you to have both a ministry in the Body of Christ and a mission in the world. Your ministry is your service to believers, and your mission is your service to unbelievers.

Fulfilling your mission in the world is God's fifth purpose for your life.

Your life mission is both shared and specific. One part of it is a responsibility you share with every other Christian, and the other part is an assignment that is unique to you.

Our English word mission comes from the Latin word for "sending." Being a Christian includes being sent into the world as a representative of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."(John20:21)

The mission Jesus had while on earth is now our mission because we are the Body of Christ. What he did in his physical body we are to continue as his spiritual body, the church. Introducing people to God! "Christ changed us from enemies into his friends and gave us the task of making others his friends also."(2Corinthians5:18)

God wants to redeem human beings from Satan and reconcile them to himself so we can fulfill the five purposes he created us for: to love him, to be a part of his family, to become like him, to serve him, and to tell others about him.

Once we are his, God uses us to reach others. He saves us and then sends us out. The Bible says, 'We have been sent to speak for Christ." We are the messengers of God's love and purposes to the world.

Your mission is a continuation of Jesus' mission on earth.

As his followers, we are to continue what Jesus started. Jesus calls us not only to come to him, but to go for him. Your mission is so significant that Jesus repeated it five times, in five different ways, in five different books of the Bible.

Matthew28:19-20, Mark16:15, Luke24:47, John20:21, Acts1:8

In the Great Commission Jesus said, "Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you."(Matthew28:19-20)

If you are a part of God's family, your mission is mandatory. To ignore it would be disobedience.

Your mission is a wonderful privilege.

Your mission involves two great privileges: working with God and representing him.

Jesus has secured our salvation, put us in his family, given us his Spirit, and then made us his agents in the world.

Telling others how they can have eternal life is the greatest thing you can do for them.

If your neighbor had cancer or AIDS and you knew the cure, it would be criminal to withhold that lifesaving information. Even worse is to keep secret the way to forgiveness, purpose, peace, and eternal life. We have the greatest news in the world, and sharing it is the greatest kindness you can show to anyone.

Your mission has eternal significance. It will impact the eternal destiny of other people, so it's more important than any job, achievement, or goal you will reach during your life on earth.

Nothing else you do will ever matter as much as helping people establish an eternal relationship with God.

This is why we must be urgent about our mission. Jesus said, "All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent me, because there is little time left before the night falls and all work comes to an end. (John9:4)

The clock is ticking down on your life mission, so don't delay another day.

Get started on your mission of reaching out to others now! We will have all of eternity to celebrate with those we have brought to Jesus, but we only have our lifetime in which to reach them.

Your mission gives your life meaning. William James said, "The best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it." The truth is, only the kingdom of God is going to last. Everything else will eventually vanish. That is why we must live purpose driven lives-lives committed to worship, fellowship, spiritual growth, ministry, and fulfilling our mission on earth. The results of these activities will last-forever!

There are people on this planet whom only you will be able to reach, because of where you live and what God has made you to be. If just one person will be in heaven because of you, your life will have made a difference for eternity. Start looking around at your personal mission field and pray, "God, who have you put in my life for me to tell about Jesus?"

God's timetable for history's conclusion is connected to the completion of our commission.

When the disciples wanted to talk about prophecy, Jesus quickly switched the conversation to evangelism.

It is easy to get distracted and sidetracked from your mission because Satan would rather have you do anything besides sharing your faith. He will let you do all kinds of good things as long as you don't take anyone to heaven with you. But the moment you become serious about your mission, expect the Devil to throw all kinds of diversions at you. When that happens, remember the words of Jesus: "Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”(Luke9:62)

WHAT IT COSTS TO FULFILL YOUR MISSION

To fulfill your mission will require that you abandon your agenda and accept God's agenda for your life. You can't just "tack it on" to all the other things you'd like to do with your life. You must say, like Jesus, "Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me, Yet I want your will, not mine."(Luke22:42)

 You yield your rights, expectations, dreams, plans, and ambitions to him.

ONE MORE FOR JESUS

My father was a minister for over fifty years, serving mostly in small, rural churches.

Dad built over 150 churches around the world.

 In 1999, my father died of cancer. In the final week of his life the disease kept him awake in a semi-conscious state nearly twenty-four hours a day.

One night near the end, while my wife, my niece, and I were by his side, Dad suddenly became very active and tried to get out of bed. He replied, "Got to save one more for Jesus! Got to save one more for Jesus! Got to save one more for Jesus!" He began to repeat that phrase over and over.

During the next hour, he said the phrase probably a hundred times. "Got to save one more for Jesus!"

As I sat by his bed with tears flowing down my cheeks, I bowed my head to thank God for my dad's faith. At that moment Dad reached out and placed his frail hand on my head and said, as if commissioning me, "Save one more for Jesus! Save one more for Jesus!"

I intend for that to be the theme of the rest of my life. I invite you to consider it as a focus for your life too.

If you want to be used by God, you must care about what God cares about.

I pray that you will always be on the lookout to reach "one more for Jesus" so that when you stand before God one day, you can say, "Mission accomplished!"

Day37 - Sharing Your Life Message

Those who believe in the son of God have the testimony of God in them.(1John 5:10a)

God has given you a Life Message to share.

When you became a believer, you also became God's messenger. God wants to speak to the world through you. Paul said, "We speak the truth before God, as messengers of God."(2Corinthians2:17)

In a courtroom, a witness isn't expected to argue the case, prove the truth, or press for a verdict; that is the job of attorneys. Witnesses simply report what happened to them or what they saw.

If you don't share it, it will be lost forever.

Personal stories are also easier to relate to than principles, and people love to hear them. They capture our attention, and we remember them longer.

Shared stories build a relational bridge that Jesus can walk across from your heart to theirs.

In this book you have learned God's five purposes for your life on earth: He made you to be a member of his family, a model of his character, a magnifier of his glory, a minister of his grace, and a messenger of his Good News to others. Of these five purposes, the fifth can only be done on earth. The other four you will keep doing in eternity in some way. That's why spreading the Good News is so important, you only have a short time to share your life message and fulfill your mission.

Day38 - Becoming a World Class Christian

Jesus said to his followers, "Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone."

(Mark 16:15 NCV)

You have a choice to make. You will be either a world-class Christian or a worldly Christian. Worldly Christians look to God primarily for personal fulfillment. They are saved, but self-centered. They love to attend concerts and enrichment seminars, but you would never find them at a missions conference because they aren't interested. Their prayers focus on their own needs, blessings, and happiness. It's a "me-first" faith: How can God make my life more comfortable? They want to use God for their purposes instead of being used for his purposes.

In contrast, world-class Christians know they were saved to serve and made for a mission. They are eager to receive a personal assignment and excited about the privilege of being used by God. World-class Christians are the only fully alive people on the planet. Their joy, confidence, and enthusiasm are contagious because they know they're making a difference.

In heaven an enormous crowd of people from "every race, tribe, nation, and language"(Revelation7:9)

 will one day stand before Jesus Christ to worship him. Getting involved as a world-class Christian will allow you to experience a little of what heaven will be like in advance.

Shift from self-centered thinking to other-centered thinking.

"God has given us his Spirit. That's why we don't think the same way that the people of this world think."(1Corinthians2:12)

Begin asking the Holy Spirit to help you to think of the spiritual need of unbelievers whenever you talk to them. With practice you can develop the habit of praying silent "breath prayers" for those you encounter. Say, "Father, help me to understand what is keeping this person from knowing you."

Shift from local thinking to global thinking.

God is a global God. "God so loved the world...."(John3:16)

"From one person God made all nations who live on earth, and he decided when and where every nation would be. God has done all this, so that we will look for him and reach out and find him." (Acts17:26-27)

Our lives are increasingly intertwined with those in other nations as we share fashions, entertainment, music, sports, and even fast food.

These are exciting days to be alive. There are more Christians on earth right now than ever before. Paul was right, "This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is changing lives everywhere, just as it changed yours."(Colossians1:6)

The first way to start thinking globally is to begin praying for specific countries. World-class Christians pray for the world.

Prayer is the most important tool for your mission in the world. People may refuse our love or reject our message, but they are defenseless against our prayers.

What should you pray for? The Bible tells us to pray for opportunities to witness," for courage to speak up, for those who will believe, for the rapid spread of the message, and for more workers. Prayer makes you a partner with others around the world. You should also pray for missionaries and everyone else involved in the global harvest.

The best way to switch to global thinking is to just get up and go on a short-term mission project to another country! There's simply no substitute for hands-on, real life experience in another culture. Quit studying and discussing your mission and just do it! I dare you to dive into the deep end.

In Acts 1:8 Jesus gave us a pattern for involvement, "You will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world." His followers were to reach out to their community(Jerusalem), to their country(Judea), to other cultures(Samaria), and to other nations (everywhere in the world).

Note that our commission is simultaneous, not sequential. While not everyone has the missionary gift, every Christian is called to be on a mission to all four groups in some way.

Shift from "here and now" thinking to eternal thinking. To make the most of your time on earth, you must maintain an eternal perspective. This will keep you from majoring on minor issues and help you distinguish between what's urgent and what's ultimate. Paul said, "We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."(2Corinthians4:18)

In one of his most misunderstood statements Jesus said, "I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings."(Luke16:9)

 Jesus did not mean for you to "buy" friends with money. What he meant was that you should use the money God gives you to bring people to Christ. They will then be friends for eternity who will welcome you when you get to heaven!  It's the best financial investment you'll ever make.

You've probably heard the expression "You can't take it with you" but the Bible says you can send it on ahead by investing in people who are going there! The Bible says, “By doing this they will be storing up real treasure for themselves in heaven-it is the only safe investment for eternity! And they will be living a fruitful Christian life down here as well.”(1Timothy6:19)

We are all called to fulfill God's five purposes for our lives: to worship, to fellowship, to grow like Christ, to serve, and to be on mission with God in the world.

God doesn't want to use just some of his people, he wants to use all of his people. We are all called to be on-mission for God. He wants his whole church to take the whole gospel to the whole world.

If you want to be like Jesus, you must have a heart for the whole world.

You can't be satisfied with just your family and friends coming to Christ. There are over 6 billion people on earth, and Jesus wants all his lost children found. Jesus said, "Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live!"(Mark8:35)

The Great Commission is your commission, and doing your part is the secret to living a life of significance.

Day39 - Balancing Your Life

Don't let the errors of evil people lead you down the wrong path and make you lose your balance.

(2 Peter3:17 CEV)

One of the events in the summer Olympics is the pentathlon. It is composed of five events: pistol shooting, fencing, horseback riding, running, and swimming. The pentathlete's goal is to succeed in all five areas, not just one or two.

Your life is a pentathlon of five purposes, which you must keep in balance. These purposes were practiced by the first Christians in Acts 2, explained by Paul in Ephesians 4, and modeled by Jesus in John 17, but they are summarized in the Great Commandment and the Great Commission of Jesus. These two statements sum up what this book is all about God's five purposes for your life:

1. "Love God with all your heart": You were planned for God's pleasure, so your purpose is to love God through worship.

2. "Love your neighbor as yourself': You were shaped for serving, so your purpose is to show love for others through ministry.

3. "Go and make disciples": You were made for a mission, so your purpose is to share God's message through evangelism.

4. "baptize them into . . .": You were formed for God's family, so your purpose is to identify with his church through fellowship.

5. "teach them to do all things ...": You were created to become like Christ, so your purpose is to grow to maturity through discipleship.

A great commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission will make you a great Christian.

But you can keep your life balanced and on track by joining a small group for accountability, by regularly evaluating your spiritual health, by recording your progress in a personal journal, and by passing on what you learn to others. These are four important activities for purpose-driven living.

Talk it through with a spiritual partner or small group.

"As iron sharpens iron, so people can improve each other."(Proverbs27:17)

Give yourself a regular spiritual check-up.

For your spiritual health you need to regularly check the five vital signs of worship, fellowship, growth in character, ministry, and mission.

Write down your progress in a journal.

"It's crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we've heard so that we don't drift off."(Hebrews2:1)

"At the LORD'S direction, Moses kept a written record of their progress."(Numbers33:2)

Aren't you glad Moses obeyed God's command to record Israel's spiritual journey?

If he had been lazy, we would be robbed of the powerful life lessons of the Exodus.

Don't just write down the pleasant things. As David did, record your doubts, fears, and struggles with God. Our greatest lessons come out of pain, and the Bible says God keeps a record of our tears.

Whenever problems occur, remember that God uses them to fulfill all five purposes in your life: Problems force you to focus on God, draw you closer to others in fellowship, build Christ-like character, provide you with a ministry, and give you a testimony. Every problem is purpose-driven.

"Write down for the coming generation what the LORD has done, so that people not yet born will praise him."(Psalm102:18) You owe it to future generations to preserve the testimony of how God helped you fulfill his purposes on earth.

It is a witness that will continue to speak long after you're in heaven.

Pass on what you know to others.

If you want to keep growing, the best way to learn more is to pass on what you have already learned.

"The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed, those who help others are helped."(Proverbs11:25)

Paul said, "Now I want you to tell these same things to followers who can be trusted to tell others."(2Timothy2:2)

 In this book I have passed on to you what others taught me about the purpose of life, now it's your duty to pass that on to others.

IT'S ALL FOR GOD'S GLORY

The night before he was crucified, Jesus reported to his Father, "I have brought you glory on

earth by completing the work you gave me to do.”(John17:4)

 When Jesus prayed these words, he had not yet died for our sins, so what "work" had he completed? In this instance he was referring to something other than the atonement.

The answer lies in what he said in the next twenty verses of his prayer."(John17:6-26)

Jesus told his Father what he had been doing for the last three years: preparing his disciples to live for God's purposes. He helped them to know and love God (worship), taught them to love each other (fellowship), gave them the Word so they could grow to maturity (discipleship), showed them how to serve (ministry), and sent them out to tell others (mission). Jesus modeled a purpose-driven life, and he taught others how to live it, too. That was the "work" that brought glory to God.

Today God calls each of us to the same work. Not only does he want us to live out his purposes, he also wants us to help others do the same. God wants us to introduce people to Christ, bring them into his fellowship, help them grow to maturity and discover their place of service, and then send them out to reach others.

This is what purpose-driven living is all about. Regardless of your age, the rest of your life can be the best of your life, and you can start living on purpose today.

Day40 - Living with Purpose

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.(Proverbs19:21)

Most people struggle with three basic issues in life. The first is identity: "Who am I?" The second is importance: "Do I matter?" The third is impact: "What is my place in life?" The answers to all three questions are found in God's five purposes for you.

"Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."(John 13:17)

Once you know what God wants you to do, the blessing comes in actually doing it.

LIFE'S FIVE GREATEST QUESTIONS

What will be the center of my life? This is the question of worship.

How do you know when God is at the center of your life? When God's at the center, you worship. When he's not, you worry. Worry is the warning light that God has been shoved to the sideline. The moment you put him back at the center, you will have peace again.

What will be the character of my life? This is the question of discipleship.

What kind of person will you be? God is far more interested in what you are than what you do. Remember, you will take your character into eternity, but not your career.

What will be the contribution of my life? This is the question of service.

What will be your ministry in the Body of Christ? Knowing your combination of spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences (SHAPE), what would be your best role in the family of God?

"This service you perform not only meets the needs of God's people, but also produces an outpouring of gratitude to God."(2Corinthians9:12)

You have to choose whom you can best help, based on your shape. You need to ask, "Who do I have a desire to help most?"

What will be the communication of my life? This is the question of your mission to unbelievers.

Before most unbelievers accept the Bible as credible they want to know that we are credible. That is why the Bible says. `Be sure that you live in a way that brings honor to the Good News of Christ."(Philippians1:27)

What will be the community of my life? This is the question of fellowship.

Where will you practice the "one another" commands with other Christians?

The more you mature, the more you will love the Body of Christ and want to sacrifice for it.

"Christ loved the church and gave his life for it.”(Ephesians5:25)

Solomon advised, "It will be good to keep these things in mind so that you are ready to repeat them."(Proverbs22:18) Here are a few examples:

•"My life purpose is to worship Christ with my heart, serve him with my shape, fellowship with his family, grow like him in character, and fulfill his mission in the world so he receives glory."

• "My life purpose is to be a member of Christ's family, a model of his character, a minister of his grace, a messenger of his word, and a magnifier of his glory."

• "My life purpose is to love Christ, grow in Christ, share Christ, and serve Christ through his church, and to lead my family and others to do the same.

• "My life purpose is to make a great commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission."

What matters most is that you fulfill God's eternal purposes regardless of where you live or work

or whom you marry. Those decisions should support your purposes.

Focus on God's purposes for your life, not your plans, since that's what will last forever.

One day God will review your answers to these life questions. Did you put Jesus at the center of your life? Did you develop his character? Did you devote your life to serving others? Did you communicate his message and fulfill his mission? Did you love and participate in his family? These are the only issues that will count. As Paul said, "Our goal is to measure up to God's plan for us."(2Corinthians10:13)

GOD WANTS TO USE YOU

This phrase is the ultimate definition of a life well lived. You do the eternal and timeless (God's purpose) in a contemporary and timely way (in your generation). That is what the purpose-driven life is all about. Neither past nor future generations can serve God's purpose in this generation. Only we can. Like Esther, God created you “for such a time as this."(Esther4:11)

One day history will come to a close, but eternity will go on forever. William Carey said, "The future is as bright as the promises of God." When fulfilling your purposes seems tough, don't give in to discouragement. Remember your reward, which will last forever. The Bible says, "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."(2Corinthians4:17)

Imagine what it is going to be like one day, with all of us standing before the throne of God presenting our lives in deep gratitude and praise to Christ. Together we will say, "Worthy, Oh Master! Yes, our God! Take the glory! the honor! the power! You created it all, It was created because you wanted it!"(Revelation4:11)

We will praise him for his plan and live for his purposes forever!

Purpose 4: You were Shaped for Serving God

Day29 – Accepting Your Assignment

God's fourth purpose for your life is Ministry, or Service.

You were created to serve God.

It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus, and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others.(Ephesians 2:10 LB)

You were saved to serve God.

"It is he who saved us and chose us for his holy work, not because we deserved it but because that was his plan."(2Timothy1:9)

God redeemed you so you could do his "holy work." You're not saved by service, but you are saved for service.

It cost Jesus his own life to purchase your salvation.

"God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God."(1Corinthians6:20)

We owe him our lives. Through salvation our past has been forgiven, our present is given meaning, and our future is secured.

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."(1John3:14)

When Peter's sick mother-in-law was healed by Jesus, she instantly "stood up and began to serve Jesus," using her new gift of health.

We are healed to help others. We are blessed to be a blessing. We are saved to serve, not to sit around and wait for heaven.

Once you are saved, God intends to use you for his goals. God has a ministry for you in his church and a mission for you in the world.

The Bible says every Christian is called to service.(Ephesians4:4-14 ref)

Your call to salvation included your call to service. They are the same.

Regardless of your job or career, you are called to full-time Christian service.

Anytime you use your God-given abilities to help others, you are fulfilling your calling.

In some churches in China, they welcome new believers by saying "Jesus now has a new pair of eyes to see with, new ears to listen with, new hands to help with, and a new heart to love others with."

One reason why you need to be connected to a church family is to fulfill your calling to serve other believers in practical ways.

"All of you together are Christ's body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.”(1Corinthians12:27)

 Your service is desperately needed in the Body of Christ, just ask any local church.

You are commanded to serve God.

Jesus was unmistakable, "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.”(Matthew20:28)

It is the heart of the Christian life. Jesus came "to serve" and "to give"

Serving and Giving sum up God's fourth purpose for your life.

Jesus taught that spiritual maturity is never an end in itself. Maturity is for ministry! We grow up in order to give out.

We must act on what we know and practice what we claim to believe.

Impression without expression causes depression. Study without service leads to spiritual stagnation.

We are only fully alive when we're helping others. Jesus said, "If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live."(Mark8:35, Mattew10:39)

 This truth is so important that it is repeated five times in the Gospels.

God wants to use you to make a difference in his world. He wants to work through you. What matters is not the duration of your life, but the donation of it.

Not how long you lived, but how you lived.

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.

Day30 - Shaped for Serving God

God formed every creature on this planet with a special area of expertise.

Some animals run, some hop, some swim, some burrow, and some fly. Each has a particular role to play, based on the way they were shaped by God.

The same is true with humans. Each of us was uniquely designed, or shaped to do certain things.

"We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works."(Ephesians2:10)

 Our English word poem comes from the Greek word translated "workmanship."

God deliberately shaped and formed you to serve him in a way that makes your ministry unique.

Not only did God shape you before your birth, he planned every day of your life to support his shaping process. David continues, "Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed."(Psalm139:16)

God never wastes anything. He would not give you abilities, interests, talents, gifts, personality, and life experiences unless he intended to use them for his glory.

HOW GOD SHAPES YOU FOR YOUR MINISTRY

Whenever God gives us an assignment, he always equips us with what we need to accomplish it.

Spiritual gifts

Heart

Abilities

Personality

Experience

SHAPE: UNWRAPPING YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS

God gives every believer spiritual gifts to be used in ministry.

"Whoever does not have the Spirit cannot receive the gifts that come from God's Spirit."(1Corinthians2:14)

You can't earn your spiritual gifts or deserve them that's why they are called gifts! They are an expression of God's grace to you. "Christ has generously divided out his gifts to us."(Ephesians4:7) Neither do you get to choose which gifts you'd like to have, God determines that.

Paul explained, "It is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have."((1Corinthians12:11)

Because God loves variety and he wants us to be special, no single gift is given to everyone. Also, no individual receives all the gifts. If you had them all, you'd have no need of anyone else, and that would defeat one of God's purposes to teach us to love and depend on each other.

Your spiritual gifts were not given for your own benefit but for the benefit of others, just as other people were given gifts for your benefit. The Bible says, "A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church."(1Corinthians12:7)

An unopened gift is worthless.

Sometimes spiritual gifts are overemphasized to the neglect of the other factors God uses to shape you for service. Your gifts reveal one key to discovering God's will for your ministry, your spiritual gifts are not the total picture. God has shaped you in four other ways too.

SHAPE: LISTENING TO YOUR HEART

Your heart represents the source of all your motivations, what you love to do and what you care about most.

"As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the person."(Proverb27:19)

 Your heart reveals the real you, what you truly are, not what others think you are or what circumstances force you to be. Your heart determines why you say the things you do, why you feel the way you do, and why you act the way you do.(Matthew12:34 ref)

Another word for heart is passion. There are certain subjects you feel passionate about and others you couldn't care less about. Some experiences turn you on and capture your attention while others turn you off or bore you to tears. These reveal the nature of your heart.

God wants you to serve him passionately, not dutifully. People rarely excel at tasks they don't enjoy doing or feel passionate about. God wants you to use your natural interests to serve him and others. Listening for inner promptings can point to the ministry God intends for you to have.

How do you know when you are serving God from your heart? The first telltale sign is enthusiasm.

The second characteristic of serving God from your heart is effectiveness.

Whenever you do what God wired you to love to do, you get good at it. Passion drives perfection.

The highest achievers in any field are those who do it because of passion, not duty or profit.

The Better Life - Serving God in a way that expresses your heart.

When you are doing what you love to do, no one has to motivate you.

Point to Ponder: I was shaped for serving God.

Verse to Remember: "God works through different men in different ways, but it is the same God who achieves his purposes through them all.”(1Corinthians12:6)

Question to Consider: In what way can I see myself passionately serving others and loving it?

31Day - Understanding Your SHAPE

You shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb. Psalm 139:13 (Msg)

SHAPE: Applying Your Ability

Your abilities are the natural talents you were born with.

All of our abilities come from God.

Since your natural abilities are from God, they are just as important and as "spiritual" as your spiritual gifts. The only difference is that you were given them at birth.

Part of the church's responsibility is to identify and release your abilities for serving God.

Every ability can be used for God's glory.

God has a place in his church where your specialties can shine and you can make a difference.

It's up to you to find that place.

For God's glory.

 First, realize your ability came from God and give him the credit.

Second, use your business to serve a need of others and to share your faith with unbelievers.

Third, return at least a tithe (10 percent) of the profit to God as an act of worship.' Finally, make your goal to be a Kingdom Builder rather than just a Wealth Builder.

Your abilities were not given just to make a living, God gave them to you for your ministry.

Peter said, "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."(1Peter4:10)

SAHPE: Using Your Personality

It is obvious that God loves variety, just look around! He created each of us with a unique combination of personality traits. God made introverts and extroverts. He made people who love routine and those who love variety. He made some people "thinkers" and others "feelers." Some people work best when given an individual assignment while others work better with a team. The Bible says, "God works through different people in different ways, but it is the same God who achieves his purpose through them all.”(1Corinthians12:6)

The world would be a very boring place if we were all plain vanilla. Fortunately, people come in more than thirty-one flavors.

It feels good to do what God made you to do. When you minister in a manner consistent with the personality God gave you, you experience fulfillment, satisfaction, and fruitfulness.

SHAPE: Employing Your Experiences

It is this last category, painful experiences, that God uses the most to prepare you for ministry. God never wastes a hurt! In fact, your greatest ministry will most likely come out of your greatest hurt.

"He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us."(2Corinthians1:4)

The very experiences that you have resented or regretted most in life -the ones you've wanted to hide and forget- are the experiences God wants to use to help others. They are your ministry!

For God to use your painful experiences, you must be willing to share them.

You have to stop covering them up, and you must honestly admit your faults, failures, and fears.

Doing this will probably be your most effective ministry. People are always more encouraged when we share how God's grace helped us in weakness than when we brag about our strengths.

Only shared experiences can help others. Aldous Huxley said, "Experience is not what happens to you. It is what you do with what happens to you." What will you do with what you've been through? Don't waste your pain; use it to help others.

I hope you have a deeper appreciation for God's sovereignty and a clearer idea of how he has prepared you for the purpose of serving him. Using your shape is the secret of both fruitfulness and fulfillment in ministry.

Day32 - Using What God Gave You

What you are is God's gift to you; what you do with yourself is your gift to God.(Danish proverb)

God deserves your best.

He shaped you for a purpose, and he expects you to make the most of what you have been given. He doesn't want you to worry about or covet abilities you don't have. Instead he wants you to focus on talents he has given you to use.

Spiritual gifts and natural abilities are always confirmed by others.

If you want to know if you have the gift of leadership, just look over your shoulder! If no one is following you, you're not a leader.

The more mature you become, the more likely you are to manifest the characteristics of a number of the gifts.

You may be serving or teaching or giving generously out of maturity rather than because it is your spiritual gift.

One of the reasons Paul was used so greatly by God was that he refused to be distracted by criticism or by comparing his ministry with others or by being drawn into fruitless debates about his ministry. As John Bunyan said, "If my life is fruitless, it doesn't matter who praises me, and if my life is fruitful, it doesn't matter who criticizes me."

In heaven we are going to serve God forever. Right now, we can prepare for that eternal service by practicing on earth. Like athletes preparing for the Olympics, we keep training for that big day, "They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally."(1Corintians9:25)

We're getting ready for eternal responsibilities and rewards.

 Day33 - How Real Servants Act

You can tell what they are by what they do. (Matthew 7:16)

We serve God by serving others.

Jesus measured greatness in terms of service, not status.

Even Christians want to be "servant-leaders," not just plain servants. But to be like Jesus is to be a servant. That's what he called himself.

Real servants make themselves available to serve.

Servants don't fill up their time with other pursuits that could limit their availability. They want to be ready to jump into service when called on. Much like a soldier, a servant must always be standing by for duty

Servants see interruptions as divine appointments for ministry and are happy for the opportunity to practice serving.

Real servants pay attention to needs.

Servants are always on the lookout for ways to help others. When they see a need, they seize the moment to meet it

"Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone, especially for the family of believers."(Galatians6:10)

We miss many occasions for serving because we lack sensitivity and spontaneity.        

Do these little things as if they were great things, because God is watching.

They have believed the lie that serving God is only for superstars. Some churches have fostered this

myth by making "excellence" an idol, which makes people of average talent hesitant to get involved.

At Saddleback Church, we practice the `good  enough" principle: It doesn't have to be perfect for God to use and bless it. We would rather involve thousands of regular folks in ministry than have a perfect church run by a few elites.

Real servants do every task with equal dedication.

You will never arrive at the state in life where you're too important to help with menial tasks. God will never exempt you from the mundane.

"If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody."(Galatians6:3)

Great opportunities often disguise themselves in small tasks. The little things in life determine the big things.

Can you be counted on by others? Are there promises you need to keep, vows you need to fulfill, or commitments you need to honor? This is a test. God is testing your faithfulness. If you pass the test, you're in good company: Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David, Daniel, Timothy, and Paul were all called faithful servants of God. Even better, God has promised to reward your faithfulness in eternity.

Real servants maintain a low profile.

Joseph is a great example. He didn't draw attention to himself, but quietly served Potiphar, then his jailer, then Pharaoh's baker and wine taster, and God blessed that attitude. When Pharaoh promoted him to prominence, Joseph still maintained a servant's heart, even with his brothers, who had betrayed him.

You have several prominent features on your body that you could live without. It is the hidden parts of your body that are indispensable. The same is true in the Body of Christ. The most significant service is often the service that is unseen."

In heaven God is going to openly reward some of his most obscure and unknown servants-people we have never heard of on earth, who taught emotionally disturbed children, cleaned up after incontinent elderly, nursed AIDS patients, and served in thousands of other unnoticed ways.

Knowing this, don't be discouraged when your service is unnoticed or taken for granted. Keep on serving God! "Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort."(1Corinthians15:58)

Day34 - Thinking Like a Servant

My servant Caleb thinks differently and follows me completely.(Numbers 14:24 NCV)

Service starts in your mind.

To be a servant requires a mental shift, a change in your attitudes. God is always more interested in why we do something than in what we do. Attitudes count more than achievements.

Real servants serve God with a mindset of five attitudes.

Servants think more about others than about themselves. Servants focus on others, not themselves. This is true humility.

"If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life."(Mattews5:41 MSG)

Servants think like stewards, not owners. Servants remember that God owns it all.

Servants think about their work, not what others are doing. They don't compare, criticize, or compete with other servants or ministries. They're too busy doing the work God has given them.

It is not our job to evaluate the Master's other servants. It is also not our job to defend ourselves against criticism. Let your Master handle it.

Servants base their identity in Christ. Because they remember they are loved and accepted by grace, servants don't have to prove their worth.

Servants think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation. They enjoy helping people, meeting needs, and doing ministry. They "serve the LORD with gladness."(Psalm100:2)

Day35 - God’s Power in Your Weakness

“For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise We are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you”(2Corinthians13:4)

God loves to use weak people. Everyone has weaknesses. In fact, you have a bundle of flaws and imperfections: physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual.

You may also have uncontrollable circumstances that weaken you, such as financial or relational limitations. The more important issue is what you do with these.

We think that God only wants to use our strengths, but he also wants to use our weaknesses for his glory.

"God purposely chose what the world considers weak in order to shame the powerful." (1Corinthians11:27)

Your weaknesses are not an accident. God deliberately allowed them in your life for the purpose of demonstrating his power through you.

He is drawn to people who are weak and admit it. Jesus regarded this recognition of our need as being "poor in spirit." It's the number one attitude he blesses.

The Bible is filled with examples of how God loves to use imperfect, ordinary people to do extraordinary things in spite of their weaknesses.

A weakness, or "thorn" as Paul called it, is not a sin or a vice or a character defect that you can change. A weakness is any limitation that you inherited or have no power to change.

Admit your weaknesses. Own up to your imperfections. Stop pretending to have it all together, and be honest about yourself.

Two great confessions in the New Testament illustrate what we need for healthy living. The first was Peter's, who said to Jesus, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."(Matthew16:16)

 The second confession was Paul's, who said to an idolizing crowd, "We are only human beings like you."(Acts14:15)

 If you want God to use you, you must know who God is and know who you are.

Be content with your weaknesses. Paul said, "I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite content with my weaknesses."(2Corinthians12:9-10)

Contentment is an expression of faith in the goodness of God. = "God, I believe you love me and know what's best for me."

Our weaknesses also prevent arrogance.

God often attaches a major weakness to a major strength to keep our egos in check.

 A limitation can act as a governor to keep us from going too fast and running ahead of God.

Our weaknesses also encourage fellowship between believers.

While strength breeds an independent spirit ("I don't need anyone else"), our limitations show how much we need each other.

our weaknesses increase our capacity for sympathy and ministry. We are far more likely to be compassionate and considerate of the weaknesses of others.

Your greatest life messages and your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurts. The things you're most embarrassed about, most ashamed of, and most reluctant to share are the very tools God can use most powerfully to heal others.

God specializes in turning weaknesses into strengths.

Moses' weakness was his temper. It caused him to murder an Egyptian. Yet God transformed Moses into "the humblest man on earth." Abraham's weakness was fear. Not once, but twice, he claimed his wife was his sister to protect himself. But God transformed Abraham into "the father of those who have faith." Impulsive, weak-willed Peter became "a rock,"  the adulterer David became "a man after my own heart,"  and John, one of the arrogant "Sons of Thunder," became the "Apostle of Love."

Honestly share your weaknesses.

Of course, vulnerability is risky. It can be scary to lower your defenses and open up your life to others. When you reveal your failures, feelings, frustrations, and fears, you risk rejection. But the benefits are worth the risk. Vulnerability is emotionally liberating.

Opening up relieves stress, defuses your fears, and is the first step to freedom.

Humility is not putting yourself down or denying your strengths rather, it is being honest about your weaknesses. The more honest you are, the more of God's grace you get. You will also receive grace from others. Vulnerability is an endearing quality, we are naturally drawn to humble people.

Pretentiousness repels but authenticity attracts, and vulnerability is the pathway to intimacy.

This is why God wants to use your weaknesses, not just your strengths.

Glory in your weaknesses. Paul said, "I am going to boast only about how weak I am and how great God is to use such weakness for his glory."(2Corinthians12:5)

 Instead of posing as self-confident and invincible, see yourself as a trophy of grace. When Satan points out your weaknesses, agree with him and fill your heart with praise for Jesus, who "understands every weakness of ours," and for the Holy Spirit, who "helps us in our weakness."

Sometimes, however, God turns a strength into a weakness in order to use us even more.

One night Jacob wrestled with God and said, "I'm not letting go until you bless me." God said, "All right," but then he grabbed Jacob's thigh and dislocated his hip.

God touched Jacob's strength (the thigh muscle is the strongest in the body) and turned it into a weakness. From that day forward, Jacob walked with a limp so he could never run away again. It forced him to lean on God whether he liked it or not. If you want God to bless you and use you greatly, you must be willing to walk with a limp the rest of your life, because God uses weak people.