Put me in Coach! Why Serve our Church Family??
Romans 7:6
But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.
As Christ-followers and a new creation, we have been set free from the chain of sin in our hearts and mind. This freedom is not a self-centred choice to do whatever we want and how we want, but it is a freedom to live abundantly in the Spirit and in God's word. It's a freedom that aligns our hearts and minds to God's desires and His command and blessings for our lives.
Our service in the church and in our community also flows out of this freedom. We are called to serve and not just "volunteer" because, at the heart of it, our service is a response and obedience to what our Lord Jesus Christ commands us, "To love the Lord our God with all our hearts and all our minds," and, "to love our neighbours as ourselves." We serve not because we want to feel good about doing good but because God has already freed us from such self-centred motives. We serve joyfully because we already are experiencing the overflowing delight of being God's children.
So, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, how are you living out your freedom in Christ today? Are you living out of the abundant life that is in Him? If so, where are you exercising your service to God and for His kingdom? Jesus has instituted the church to be a place where we serve together as one body, and the Holy Spirit has given each of us unique giftings to add to it. Let's not waste our time standing on the sideline and take a step of faith into a ministry that God is calling you to be in. As you are in Christ, so should your motives. So serve freely, and serve faithfully.
-Pastor Calvin