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
The church is truly the hope of the world because it carries the truth of Jesus Christ and the extension of God’s love. It’s what we do. Paul goes on to say, “God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ephesians 3:10-11 NLT). Isn’t that incredible? God has planned that we would partner with Him in changing the world! Could any purpose be greater?
C. S. Lewis affirmed our purpose: “The church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply, a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose.” Our faith and even our strategy is shaped by this central idea.
We are led by the Servant-King. Jesus defined greatness through service. His earthly life was daily selflessly serving others. When His service culminated on the cross, self-sacrifice became the forever template and ultimate expression of love. When the church serves, it reflects the heart of Christ.
In His last teachings before He laid down His life, He emphasized in multiple ways that His true followers would be like Him, and whatever they did to serve others would be done in His name. In Matthew 25:37-40 Jesus equated our service to the needy, the marginalized, and vulnerable with serving Him directly. Jesus said, “Whatever you do for others you are doing for me.”
When Jesus told His disciples, “And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself” (John 12:32 NLT), He was not only foretelling His death on the cross to bring people to Himself, He was pointing to the way the best evangelism happens. Evangelism through sacrificial and joyful service lifts up Jesus and is more effective than any words will ever be. Actions of radical generosity cut through cultural cynicism. People are more receptive to hearing about the love of Jesus when they have first experienced it through hands-on service. That service opens hearts and minds to hear testimonies and the gospel that transforms.
- This kind of service honors God, partners us with Him, and shows Jesus to the world. It is motivated by gratitude for the grace we have already received and want to share with others. Our posture is humility because we know that while God USES us, it is Christ in us that is “the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). God, may this be the overpowering passion of my life.