Discovering your purpose – Tip 3 - Purpose through serving

Jesus gives us instructions concerning the power of our serving. In one rendition, it was their mother that approached Him. In another it was His disciples. Nonetheless, it was an expression of their ambition to excel and be great. Jesus did not rebuke their ambition to excel. He instructed them on how to do it the kingdom of God's way. He advised them that if they wanted to be great, they had to serve.

 ~ Serving is an expression of our faith – James 2:14-18

Our serving is a part of our faith and it expresses God’s heart towards others in the earth. Every believer should find a place to serve. Doing nothing should not be an option as a believer. Serving expresses your faith, provides your measure that impacts that area, causes your growth and positions you to discover your purpose.  Jesus is our example of how we are to live out our faith serving.

We serve out of that divine deposit from God. God has deposited in each of us a measure to serve and deposit in the earth that is timely and appropriate. It's about serving according to God's purposes, not living to see how much we can get. It's unfulfilling to live only for what you can get. And certainly, to principle your relationship with God in what you can get from Him is not correct, nor is it kingdom mindedness. We are called and purposed to make a deposit in this world. And it's measured by God's purposes for our lives.

Consider Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A Baptist preacher; gifted by God to preach at a time that would arrest the attention of a nation. He ministered from a God given deposit that impacted many lives then and even today. He made an indellable impact on many lives in this nation and in the world. He made a deposit in the earth according to God's purpose for his life. One of his greatest sermons was called; Drum Major Instinct. It was based and principled in serving. 

As we serve we touch others, congruently, we become unselfish, grow with God and in our faith. This is transformational growth. This growth prepares you for your next season. Often, we desire to know God’s future purpose for our lives. However, God orders our lives in seasons and steps. Consider focusing on your current place and be where your feet are. It's preperation for the next season.

However, these were not just qualifiers; they were foundations to build on and mature. While serving in this area, they were touching lives while building character and learning how to follow the Spirit of God. These are points that prepare you for your next season. You don’t get this experience and opportunity to grow from the sideline.

It comes through serving. When I say be where your feet are. I'm talking about taking in the experience, enjoying it, gleaning and growing from it, and maximizing the experience. It's power for the next season.

 
Choose an area to serve in. It may be a need in the church or volunteering in the community. It may be an inner inclination or God could be leading you there. But, as a believer, serving expresses God’s heart towards others and impacts that area for the good of all. And as we serve we grow and are matured as well. This prepares us for our next season of purpose.  

Whatever God has purposed us to do; He has deposited and equipped us with the abilities to do it. As mentioned before, our abilities are indicators of our purpose. Like any other successful manufacturer, God designed and created us according to our purpose. This insures the highest level of success. As we serve, those abilities that He placed in us will come into fruition according to the task at hand.

Get out of your comfort zone and serve. You may have never known that you could do something until you volunteered and tried. Potential and abilities are provoked when we try something new or get out of our comfort zone. Abilities are indicators of purpose.

They were placed in us in potential form and must be provoked. Serving provokes that potential that God placed in us for His purposes. 

God has deposited in us the abilities to complete our purposes in potential form. That potential is provoked through serving. I encourage you to try your hand at serving in as many areas as you can and desire. One of them will provoke your potential and speak to God’s purpose for your life in that season. Your service will cause growth and make a difference in your community, government or church. As you serve and impact that area, you’re growing and being prepared for your next season of purpose.

And in some cases, misused or pointed in the wrong direction. God gave them to us to deposit in the earth according to His will and purposes. The apostle Paul realized that God had placed in him abilities, and insights for the purpose of serving the people.

They impacted their lives and affirmed his purpose. His life became a drink offering of service to them. Philippians 2:17

It’s God who gives us the abilities and talents to serve according to His will and purpose. All the glory goes to Him and Him alone. Even in this self centered me first society; as believers, our motives of service must be right with God. Although in many cases our abilities may garner blessings and even economic gain. And there is nothing wrong with that. But as believers, our primary motive in serving should be to do God's will, please him, complete our purposes to the glory of God.

This is about our motives and attitude. If we serve for the money, worldly glory or for accolades from people our motives are incorrect. Our motives should be to serve our best as if we were serving God. And our attitude should reflect our desire to give our very best. This means that we serve in excellence. This means that we serve to please God and not man. As much as we all appreciate the accolades and thanks from people, ultimately, we should be serving as unto the Lord, to please Him to His glory.  

Serving impacts others and opens the door for us to discover our seasonal purposes. Serving causes those divine deposits placed in us by God to emerge and affirm our purpose. Serving is imperative to discovering your seasonal God given purposes.  

Keep in mind that hearing alone does not impact your life or bring God’s success; obedience and application Does.

Apply these instruction and walk in them. Then you will experience God’s influence in your life. 

Joshua 1:8 / James 1:22