by Rick Warren

“Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body.” (Romans 12:5 MSG)

You are going to give your life for something. What will it be — a career, a sport, a hobby, fame, wealth? None of these will have lasting significance. Service is the pathway to real significance. It is through ministry that we discover the meaning of our lives. The Bible says, “Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body” (Romans 12:5 MSG).

As we serve together in God’s family, our lives take on eternal importance. Paul said, “I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less … because of what you are a part of” (1 Corinthians 12:14a, 19 MSG).

God wants to use you to make a difference in his world. He wants to work through you. What matters is not the duration of your life but the donation of it, not how long you lived but how you lived.

If you’re not involved in any service or ministry, what excuse have you been using?

  • Abraham was old.
  • Jacob was insecure.
  • Leah was unattractive.
  • Joseph was abused.
  • Moses stuttered.
  • Gideon was poor.
  • Samson was codependent.
  • Rahab was immoral.
  • David had an affair and all kinds of family problems.
  • Elijah was suicidal.
  • Jeremiah was depressed.
  • Jonah was reluctant.
  • Naomi was a widow.
  • John the Baptist was eccentric, to say the least.
  • Peter was impulsive and hot-tempered.
  • Martha worried a lot.
  • The Samaritan woman had several failed marriages.
  • Zacchaeus was unpopular.
  • Thomas had doubts.
  • Paul had poor health.
  • Timothy was timid.

That is quite a variety of misfits, but God used each of them in his service. He will use you, too, if you stop making excuses.

Talk About It

  • How is your service important to the church of which you are a part?
  • If you only had a week more to live, how would you want to spend your time? In what ways would you want to spend your time serving?

 

Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America’s largest and most influential churches. Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller “The Purpose Driven Life.” His book, “The Purpose Driven Church,” was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. He is also the founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for pastors.

This devotional ©2012 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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