"God has MADE us what we are. In Christ Jesus, GOD MADE US TO DO GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD PLANNED IN ADVANCE FOR US TO LIVE OUR LIVES DOING."
Ephesians 2:10 (New Century Version).
• You are saved to serve. There is a purpose for your salvation—the reason why you were saved.
- You are not saved to buy cars, build houses, and accumulate material possessions; but to be part of building God's Kingdom on the earth.
- Although abundant life is not against abundant of blessings; however, God's thoughts and ways are different from that of man (Isaiah 55:8).
- Everyone born into God's Kingdom, who becomes a new creation in the new birth, is born into the Kingdom with a purpose in view (2 Corinthians 5:17).
- Abraham's calling out of his father's house and country, is for a purpose (Genesis 12:1-4; Hebrews 11:8).
- God did call him out with a purpose in view. God promised to make him a great nation (Genesis 12:2); bless him and make his name great (Genesis 12:2); and cause him to be a blessing (Genesis 12:2); And in him all the families of the earth shall be blessed (Genesis 12:3; 18:18; 22:18; 26:4; 28:14).
- In other words, Abraham would be a blessing to the whole world through his seed—Jesus Christ:
8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “IN YOU ALL THE NATIONS SHALL BE BLESSED.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. 16 Now to Abraham and his SEED were the promises made. HE DOES NOT SAY, “AND TO SEEDS,” as of many, but as of one, “AND TO YOUR SEED,” WHO IS CHRIST" (Galatians 3:8,9,16 (NKJV).
READ: Galatians 3:14,29 - Likewise, there is a purpose for your salvation, a reason for your new birth:
"WHOEVER IS A BELIEVER IN CHRIST IS A NEW CREATION. The old way of living has disappeared. A NEW WAY OF LIVING HAS COME INTO EXISTENCE [such a person has gotten a new beginning]" (2 Corinthians 5:17 GOD'S WORD translation GW).
• There are different sets of people who served in the Ministry of Jesus Christ:
(i) The Appointed ones (Luke 10:1-4,17).
- God uses the available vessels. Those who make themselves available for Him to use.
- If someone made himself or herself available, they are ready and willing to serve, God would make use of such a person.
- Some are appointed by God to be used, because they made themselves available. When you were saved, and you started in close fellowship with God; you would eventually end up being used as a vessel of honour in His hand (2 Timothy 2:20,21).
- Every believer should strive to grow in his or her relationship with God and not allow deceitfulness of RICHES to take their attention away from the things of the Kingdom (Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:19; Hebrews 3:13). SEEKING the Kingdom of God should be the utmost priority of every believer in Christ Jesus.
- What the people of the world are running after could be gotten through the covenant, and not through labour or toiling:
31 THEREFORE do not WORRY, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
32 FOR AFTER ALL THESE THINGS THE GENTILES [the heathens or the unbelievers] SEEK. For your HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS THAT YOU NEED ALL THESE THINGS. 33 BUT SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, and ALL THESE THINGS shall be ADDED TO YOU" (Matthew 6:31-33 NKJV). - If you pursued or sought the things of the world like the unbelievers do, you may miss God and what He does has in plan for you.
(ii) The Called ones (Mark 3:13; Matthew 4:18-22).
- Jesus called the twelve to be with Him, and later to become the apostles—the sent ones.
- Some have wasted their lives and destinies, because they delayed or did NOT answer the call of God on their lives.
- Those who are in this group are to be with Him and later be sent out to represent Him—to preach, heal sicknesses, and cast out demons (Mark 3:13-15).
(iii) The healed ones: Luke 8:1–3 (GOD’S WORD Translation):
1 AFTER this, Jesus traveled from one city and village to another. HE SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT GOD’S KINGDOM. The twelve apostles were with him. 2 Also, SOME WOMEN WERE WITH HIM. They had been CURED from EVIL SPIRITS and VARIOUS ILLNESSES. THESE WOMEN were MARY, also called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; 3 JOANNA, whose husband Chusa was Herod’s administrator; SUSANNA; and many other WOMEN. THEY PROVIDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES."
- Those who received their healings under the Ministry of Jesus Christ turned to partner with Him in His work—assignment.
- These women who had been healed under Jesus' earthly Ministry, supported His work—contributed from their resources, money, to support Jesus and His Disciples in their outreach programmes (Luke 8:1-3). In other words, they used their money and time for the work of God's Kingdom.
- There is a purpose for your salvation, that is, being born-again, and the blessing of God in your life—the money God has allowed to pass through your hands.
• Note: Your Life must count for God!
- It is not what you wished to become, but what God has in plan for you to be.
- You must be part of Kingdom building on planet earth.
- You have to be in one of the groups mentioned above, for you to be relevant on earth as a Believer.
- What are you doing for God, and How are your doing it?
- Until you started to contribute, be part of building His Kingdom, you may not amount to much, or be relevant on the earth.
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Peace!
TO BE CONTINUED