Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
As we've been talking about the keys to a healthy spiritual life, I think one of the most important things to recognize is what comes out of your life as a result of a connectedness to Christ.
This verse summarizes what I believe to be a beautiful picture of the expression of faith that comes as a result of a hidden life with Jesus. What we just read is how there is service that will happen for God, but that service for God actually births from our connectedness and loyalty to God.
The People of the Way
Earlier in this book, you'll see in 1 Peter chapter 2 that there's a description of the people of the way of Jesus. It talks about how these people were not a people at all before Jesus, but because of Christ, they've unified together as a community. In Him, they began to express into the world a beautiful reality of salvation and knowing Him personally.
There are gifts that come out of your life that are only fully and naturally expressed when they are informed by the power of God.
You Have Spiritual Gifts
What's important for us to note is if indeed we do have a connection to Christ, we do have spiritual gifts. The reason I want to say that so matter-of-factly is sometimes we might be tempted to look out at other people and to see the way that they are living and doing and working and being in the way of Jesus.
Don't Underestimate What You Have
We might assume, man, those people have something very clear and specific that they're supposed to do for God. Maybe I don't have anything in me that is worth or worthy of that kind of expression.
It's just not true, because the Bible tells us that in Christ we have everything we need for life and godliness. In Christ expressed by the leading of the Spirit, we get to bring glory and honor to God in the world because of what He's done in us.
What Has God Put in You?
One of the most important questions for us, as we're seeking to live a spiritual life that comes from a connected place, is: What has God put in me to express into the world?
The Bible talks a lot about an expression that comes as a result of Christ and knowing Him. I think one of the beautiful things we see in Ephesians chapter 2, verse 10 is that it says, "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works."
Works Born from Connectedness
In other words, in Christ there are works that come out of us. What I want you to catch one more time is those works aren't birthed from our own talents and abilities alone. Those works are coming from a place of connectedness. Our loyalty and fidelity to God is what informs our acts of service to the world.
Your Job and God's Job
You have spiritual gifts if you're a follower of Christ. He has put things in you and for you to bring Him glory in the world. Our job is to simply say yes. Yes to service, yes to servanthood, yes to being led by God in the world to do things that bring Him glory.
His job by His Spirit is to inform in your life the things that we need to know from Him that will be expressed in the world.
Cultivate Loyalty and Say Yes
Today, I just want you to know that our job is to cultivate that loyalty and connectedness to Christ in hidden places. Our job is to say yes to expressing our love and joy for Christ in the world through service.
Let's trust God to speak clearly and to show us the ways that we are to serve Him in the world for His glory.
