“Let my people go, so that they may serve me.” (Exodus 8:1)
These words from the Lord were delivered by Moses to Pharaoh when God was preparing to free His people from bondage in Egypt. God was setting His people free from slavery in order that they would worship and serve Him. Now, you and I may never go anywhere near the nation of Egypt at any point in our lives, but the same principle holds true: We have been saved to serve.
Many in the church today have lost sight of this biblical truth. Instead of understanding that we have been saved for service, they believe they are saved by service. This, of course, is a false gospel rooted in our merit, not God’s mercy. Salvation is all of God. “Salvation belongs to our God,” as the great multitude in heaven declares (Revelation 7:10). There is nothing we do to “get” saved. But after God saves us, we are called to serve the One who died to set us free from our bondage to sin, Satan, and death. We are to offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God through service. We are to live lives of sacrificial service to others – all others – regardless of the cost or circumstance.
We have been blessed to be a blessing. We have been healed to help. We have been redeemed to preach the Gospel of redemption. We have been saved to serve. This is the call for every child of God, not just those who are in vocational ministry, such as pastors and missionaries. Every Christian is in “full-time Christian ministry,” regardless of what profession they have chosen. The butcher, baker, and candlestick maker . . . all are called to serve their Savior. A “non-serving Christian” is a contradiction in terms of gargantuan proportions.
As you continue growing and maturing in your faith, keep in mind that your maturity is always meant for ministry. Jesus declared that He “did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matthew 20:28), and the same must be said of those who are His disciples.
So . . . Can that be said about you? Does your life reflect the truth that you have been saved to serve?
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 