FCC's 40 Days of Purpose!
If you have any questions or remarks regarding the daily readings from The Purpose Driven Life, topics discussed in worship, or Don's reflections here - or if you have something you would like for Don to comment on in his remarks - feel free to e-mail Don at dmorrow@fccbentonville.com
Week 5: YOU WERE SHAPED FOR SERVING GOD
Links to other 40 Days pages: Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Home
DAY 29: Accepting Your Assignment
First of all, isn't it great to know that God designed you to help make a difference with your life?! God made you for ministry - for serving others as a sign of your love for God, and God's love for them. As someone once said, you may be the only Bible some people ever read! In other words, you represent God (Paul says we are Christ's ambassadors - 2 Corinthians 5:20), and as God's representative, you are called to make a difference!
Once again, "Accepting Your Assignment" is not exactly how I would title this, as it implies that God has preordained exactly what your ministry "assignment" is in life (which is precisely what Warren intends it to imply). Warren's opening scripture from Ephesians 2:10, Today's English Version, says that "God has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do." That is the same scripture that he quotes immediately under the title of this section, only this rendering is from the Living Bible: "long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others." Or my preferred translation, the NRSV, which states: "For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life." Both the LB and the NRSV translations leave room for the possibility that God prescribed that those who follow Him should live lives of "good works" and "helping others" without maintaining that God has already determined exactly which of those good deeds each of us is to do. (I've probably beat this horse enough in previous days, so I'll move on...)
While we were made for service, we were also made for joy. Those things may sound mutually exclusive to some; but the truth is, once you are living in your God-given purposes, the very act of serving can become the deepest experience of joy imaginable. Just as giving someone you love a special, personal, meaningful gift can be even more joyful than receiving a gift, the gift of your loving service to God (and to God's children) as a response to God's love for you can be a huge fount of joy in your life. It is precisely that joy emanating from your service that is a sign that you are serving as God intended. On the other hand, if that joy is not present while you serve, you may either be serving in a way different from God's intentions, or with motives which are out of whack.
No matter what the service is you are providing, know that your service/ministry is an important one! Paul describes this time and time again in comparing individuals to the various parts of a body, in that while the body may function without the use of an eye or a hand or an ear, it only functions fully when all of the various parts are contributing to the whole. The point is, no matter how "small" the ministry may seem that you are called to, there are no insignificant ministries in the church. We need you! More importantly, God needs you. And you were created for this purpose. As Jesus says in Matthew 20:26-28, "Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many." Jesus came as our exemplar - and Jesus came modeling a life of service! Warren is right when he says, "for Christians, service is not optional, something to be tacked onto our schedules if we can spare the time. It is the heart of the Christian life."
Again, Warren talks about this service in light of eternity, and talks more about a day of judgment when we will each stand before God and give an account of how we utilized our time and gifts. And again, I caution you against making that the reason for giving service to God - for then I think your motivation will be wrong, and you will be serving as much for yourself ultimately as for the person you are serving. Warren also quotes Romans 2:8 from the New Living Translation, which says that God "will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves." I would once again invite you to turn to the more literal NRSV, verses 6-8: "For he will repay according to each one's deeds: to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; while for those who are self-seeking and who obey not the truth but wickedness, there will be wrath and fury." Clearly, Paul is saying that what we do with our lives will make a difference, and that living a life of service will be rewarded. But notice an interesting difference between this translation and Warren's NLT quote. In the NLT, God actively punishes (God "pours out anger and wrath") while in the NRSV, while God plays an active role in rewarding good works ("he will give eternal life"), the "judgment" is more in the passive ("there will be wrath and fury"). That concept fits more with my personal understanding of God. I don't think God actively punishes us for our selfishness and sinfulness, as much as God - especially when we turn from Him - allows us to suffer from the natural consequences of our actions.
Regardless of how you understand any of that, it is clear that for us to grow toward spiritual maturity, we MUST put our faith into action - and one of the primary ways of putting our faith into action is by putting ourselves into service. We need to stop looking at the church first as a place where we can be blessed, and instead make the church first and foremost a place where we can be a blessing to others. Ask not what your church can do for you; ask what you can do for your church!
DAY 30: Shaped for Serving God
We read in several places in the Bible that we are "God's workmanship." I love what Warren points out in his opening, that our English word poem comes from the Greek word translated here as workmanship. I think that seeing ourselves as poems from God is an interesting, useful metaphor. We are crafted by God, penned with the utmost love and thought... But one of the more powerful things about poetry is that it is also left open to interpretation in the hearing of each individual. That implies, to me, that while God is our Author, He's left some of the details up to us. So again, I would argue with Warren's interpretation that God "planned every day of your life to support his shaping process" (PDL p.235). Psalm 139:16, which he quotes from the NLT in support of that statement ("Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed."), reads a little differently in the NRSV: "In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed." In my mind, that is much more open-ended than Warren's rendering. Also, speaking of poetry, remember that is precisely what the psalms are: poetry, lyrics sometimes set to music. Don't read the psalms as though it is a technical textbook. In fact, don't read any of the Bible from that point of view! To read it as a factual manual robs it of its depth and power to reveal Truth.
I absolutely love Warren's acronym for determining your "SHAPE" for ministry. The S stands for Spiritual Gifts, which we all have. All of us are equipped in certain ways by God to contribute to the Body of Christ. One reason is so that we would have to rely upon one another; remember, God made us for relationships! The H stands for your Heart, or your passion - those things which motivate you or give you great joy. Those passions are great clues as to where God is calling you to serve. As Warren says, "Don't ignore your interests. Consider how they might be used for God's glory." I think of our own "Fantasy Football Ministry" here. Some of you may laugh or think it ridiculous; but I assure you, it's not. It was born out of Brian Phillips' passion for football and a feeling that he was called to reach out to other men in the congregation. While that ministry is mostly oriented toward fellowship, it has helped to form and solidify some great relationships here. No matter where your interests lie, God can use that interest for His glory!
DAY 31: Understanding Your Shape
Continuing to look at the various things that help to determine our God-given "SHAPE" for ministry, Warren talks about the A, which stands for Abilities. All of our abilities come from God; therefore, we can surmise that all of our abilities are intended for us to use in the building up of God's kingdom in some way. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians, "Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." Don't ignore the abilities God has given you, whatever those abilities may be, when trying to determine where and how God wants to use you. Your abilities and natural inclinations are a wonderful sign of God's will for your life - often not only for career possibilities, but also for ministry possibilities. As Warren writes, "God doesn't waste abilities; he matches our calling and our capabilities."
Next in the acronym is the P, which stands for your Personality. This is an important factor in determining your place in ministry, and one all too often overlooked. For instance, let's say God has given you a wonderful singing voice, so someone asks you to lead worship and lead the congregation in singing. That's a great fit, if you also have an outgoing personality. But if you don't, the ministry might be much better served with you singing in the choir. There are strengths and weaknesses to all personality types. Whatever ministry God is calling you toward is sure to match your personality.
Finally, the E in "SHAPE" stands for your Experiences. Again, this is a HUGE factor in determining where God might best use you to serve others and to serve His kingdom. I really hope you will take some time to reflect on the 6 different kinds of experiences Warrens lists (p.246) which help to influence your God-given SHAPE: family experiences, educational experiences, vocational experiences, spiritual experiences, ministry experiences, and painful experiences. And Warren is right on the mark when he says that often, it is our most painful experiences that God makes the most use of in preparing us for service. Warren even goes so far as to say that "your greatest ministry will most likely come out of your greatest hurt." I don't believe that God causes us to go through pain in order to equip us for ministry; but God definitely allows us to go through painful experiences, and then uses those experiences for His (and our) greater good. But before God can really utilize those painful experiences of yours in order to help others, you must be willing to open up about them. Don't be ashamed of your weaknesses or hurts or failures. Be open about them, so that God can not only heal your pain, but can also use that same healing process on those around you.
DAY 32: Using What God Gave You
The main thought behind this day is quite simple: be yourself, because God made you! Don't think that there is only one way to be a "good Christian" and to live out your faith. You were uniquely crafted and wired by God - so serve Him in the ways that he equipped you to serve Him!
Warren's words of advice regarding the discovery of your particular spiritual gifts is real wisdom. Spiritual gifts tests and inventories can be helpful; but they are certainly not the tell-all some folks make them out to be. And one reason is because of what Warren points out: while there are several lists of spiritual gifts found in the New Testament, at no place in the Bible are those gifts specifically defined. Anyone who composes a test will naturally have to define the various gifts - and while we can surmise some things about all of the gifts from various places in the Bible, it is inevitable that the particular biases of the author of the test will show up in some way or another. I do think spiritual gifts tests are helpful, at least insofar as they get us thinking about where God is calling us to serve. But Warren's point is entirely valid: the best way to discover your gifts and abilities is to experiment with different areas of service. I'll use my own ministry as an example here. When I first felt called to ministry and entered seminary, I did so with the intention of getting not only my Masters but also my PhD in order that I might teach in a college or seminary. I really had no inclination to work long-term in the church, because while I loved Youth ministry, I just couldn't see myself as a preacher... that is, until after the first time I preached. After that first sermon, I recognized a gift within me I had never really known was there - and to this day, nothing gives me more joy than preaching. That form of service fits my SHAPE - but I never would have realized that without experiencing it.
Another crucial point made by Warren in this chapter is to simply accept your SHAPE, celebrate it, and allow God to use you through it. Don't get caught up wishing you had someone else's talents or gifts - for God created you as you are. There is no need to compare yourself to others; indeed, comparisons are harmful to you as an individual as well as to the greater Body. And stand up for the way God made you for ministry when others try to get you to conform your SHAPE to meet their own idea of the way they think you should be shaped. That's not to say that we cannot learn from one another and take advice from one another on how we can be more effective in our service to God. But there are various ways to approach all aspects of ministry. Stick to the way God equipped you to serve Him.
DAY 33: How Real Servants Act
In Mark 10, two of Jesus' disciples, James and John, are jockeying for position in Jesus' kingdom. They want to know who will sit at Jesus' side - seats that would symbolize positions of dignity and power and importance. But Jesus says to them, "You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many." Jesus himself came to serve, and tells us that we were created to become servants as well. It is through service that we become great, for "the last shall be first, and the first shall be last" in God's kingdom. God turns our worldly ideal about power and importance on its head.
This chapter, for me, is one of the most insightful in this entire book. Warren points out here that, no matter what your SHAPE is for ministry, even more important is the attitude you bring to ministry. Having a heart for servanthood is critical for allowing God to work through you in the best way. Warren says, "Your primary ministry should be in the area of your shape, but your secondary service is wherever you're needed at the moment. Your shape reveal your ministry, but your servant's heart will reveal your maturity." That's good stuff. While you should build your long-term areas of ministry around your God-given gifts and personality and passions, you should never use those as an excuse not to help out with whatever immediate needs may present themselves in the greater Body's ministry.
One of the keys to allowing God to use us in that way is making ourselves AVAILABLE. In our culture, most of us are so BUSY that we are not available for those God-moments that present themselves throughout the course of our daily lives. We have to be interruptable in order to find the moment-by-moment ways that God is wanting to talk to us or work through us. It's amazing, if you look at the life of Jesus, how often his miracles came as some sort of interruption. Often it was when Jesus was on his way somewhere else, but was interrupted, that God did some of his most powerful work. For instance, in Matthew 20 we read that Jesus was heading for Jerusalem, but "as they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. There were two blind men sitting by the roadside. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, 'Lord, have mercy on us!'... Jesus stood still and called to them, saying, 'What do you want me to do for you?' They said to him, 'Lord, let our eyes be opened.' Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they regained their sight and followed him." Oftentimes, the key to God being able to use us and work through us is our being willing to set aside our own personal agendas and schedules long enough for God to do God's work. When a need presented itself to Jesus, Jesus stopped and stood still. I know that your agenda is important... but is it really more important than God's agenda? We must look at interruptions as possible "divine appointments" for ministry. As Warren writes, "when God puts someone in need right in front of you, he is giving you the opportunity to grow in servanthood" (PDL p.259). His advice on how to become more "interruptable" for God is golden: remind yourself at the beginning of each day that you are God's servant. Then, those interruptions won't frustrate you as much because your agenda will be whatever God wants to bring into your life!
DAY 34: Thinking Like a Servant
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DAY 35: God's Power in Your Weakness
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Links to other 40 Days pages: Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Home