Stop Working Like You're Someone Else

"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

One of the current buzz words in Christian circles right now is "serving". People are being asked to serve before, after, and during church services. People are being asked to serve for special events. People are being asked to serve at missions. People are being asked to serve and serve and serve.

What if there are people who do not like to serve? What if there are people who feel no calling to serve? Are they selfish? Are they not listening to God and doing what He is asking of them? Maybe some are, but I think most are not.

God made each and everyone of us differently. He gave some of us the gift of teaching. He gave some of us the gift of encouraging. He gave some of us the gift of administrating (certainly not me!). He gave some of us the gift of giving. He gave some of us the gift of listening. He gave some of us the gift of discernment. He gave some of us the gift of serving. And so many more different gifts.

God made us to be, well, us. He created us to do good work, His work. He created each of us uniquely and has a plan for us. If we try to work outside of His plan, because others make us feel we must, then are we really doing the good works that He prepared in advance? No, we are doing what others tell us Christians are supposed to do. We are doing what we may feel guilted into doing, from others or ourselves. What we aren't doing is working in His plan.

Don't let what you think you should be doing, because it is popular in Christian circles or some sort of religious rule or tradition, keep you from living as God's handiwork. You know the saying, "God doesn't make junk"? It's true. He made each and everyone of us specially gifted, and He has a prepared purpose for us. Now let's walk in it and see what He will do.