Serve

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.  (Ephesians 2:8-10, NRSV)

In May, we started our journey of learning more about becoming disciples through the 6 marks of discipleship in Power Surge by Michael Foss

This month is about Serve. We are called to serve inside and outside of the congregation we are a part of. This is instilled into the confirmation students by having service times inside and outside the congregation. The confirmation students are required to do service outside of the congregation, that they are not paid for, or is not a part of something they are doing for another group. Because that is what we were made for.

As Lutherans, it is easy for us to get hung up on not doing things because we are saved by grace through faith so that we cannot boast. It is God’s doing. But my Roman Catholic friend always points out to me we forget about verse 10 of Ephesians 2. We cannot do anything to earn our salvation, this is most certainly true, but that gift is given to us with another gift. The gift of good deeds.

You see verse 10 says, “For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.” We are saved to do good things for others. We are released from having to worry about obtaining our salvation by being good enough, to doing good works for others, and serving in the name of God to show the love God has for all of creation.

So remember to serve, here, there, and everywhere! Not because you have to to earn anything, but because you are freed to, to show everyone God’s love!