Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

First let us be clear on this matter, if God has ordained that good work, it will happen. Does that mean we will always know, feel, or in any manner express that good work? Over the years I have heard this one resounding cry from my brothers and sisters in Christ. “I don’t think I am being used of God.”

Whenever I hear that I try and establish a closer relationship with that individual. It very well may be that God is using them and they are not aware of that good work. It is part of our relationship with the other members of the body of Christ to encourage them, with the truth. False praise is a lie and the work of our enemy.

So what is a good work? Perhaps the expectation of performance is tied directly to that understanding. We are all called to serve and any service in providing for the needs of your local church is a good work. We will often take new believers that express a desire to serve into an area of service that is needed and simple. New believers do not need complex task. The idea is to foster a feeling of success in service.

Is this the good work that the Lord has ordained? In some small part yes but as you read your bible you will soon learn that we are to grow in Christ. Growth is expansion. The more you realize who you are in Christ, the gifts given, the talents developed, and your place in the body, the more you will want to move on to using all that God has provided.

As a minimum for our new believers, we should monitor and exhort them as they grow.

Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Picking up where I left off yesterday, the next verse in Ephesians 4 explains how all the ministries listed in 11 work to edify the body of Christ. Speak the truth in love. This is the foundation of all service ministries, it is the Rock of our foundation, it is Christ.

Going just one step further in this understanding, how can you know truth if you do not know Christ intimately? Even more so love, for if the love of Christ does not dwell in you richly, how can you express that love?

Can God be served without this intimate relationship? Sadly yes.

Philippians 1:15-18 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

What we all need to remember in service is that the furtherance of the Gospel is not dependent on the exercise of the will of man but rather on the power of God. We must not lose ourselves in service to that point where we fail to maintenance the relationship we have with God. Pride will worm its way into any of these ministries once we start looking at the service as being of our own making.

My only fear is for those who will be followers of men and not of God. Does that mean they will not come to a right and proper relationship with God? No. God will win out, but how much time will be lost in service to self?

The saddest words ever said to me were: “Why didn’t you tell me back then?”

Because I was wrapped up in self.