“I am Thy servant to do Thy will, and that will is sweeter to me than position or riches or fame, and I choose it above all things on Earth or in Heaven.”
―A. W. Tozer
Consider these three questions:
1. Do you call yourself a Christian?
2. Do you believe in the power of God’s word?
3. Do you believe the Bible is the inerrant and inspired word of God?
If you answered “yes” to these questions, congratulations! You’ve just applied yourself to a life of full-time ministry.
Some of you are thinking things like, “But I don’t work at a church,” or “But I don’t work for a Christian company,” or “But I don’t have time.” Let’s study what it means to live a life for Christ.
Philippians 1:21 offers this definition: “For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.” If you claim to be a Christian, your life is meant to be lived for him. Meaning, you have all the time in the world to do what you’ve been called to do in the first place.
Galatians 2:20 states, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” If you claim to be a Christian, then it is no longer you who lives, but Christ who lives in you. It’s his agenda, not ours.
Finally, Romans 8:28 reminds us, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” If you are in Christ, God can use your current situation and workplace for his purpose, with no exceptions.
Some Christians I know call this “missional living.” The idea is that that you adopt the mentality and behavior of a missionary no matter what you’re doing in life, whether that’s talking to your next-door neighbor, attending a business meeting, or going on vacation. “Missional living” doesn’t mean you’re constantly interrupting every conversation with, “Do you know Jesus as your personal savior?” But it does mean that you’re living a life that actively shares the gospel with everyone you encounter.
The reality is, we are all called to full-time ministry, no matter where we work. Jesus isn’t hiring part-time followers. Make it count.
VERSE OF THE DAY
“O Lord, I am your servant; yes, I am your servant, born into your household; you have freed me from my chains” (Psalm 116:16).
CHALLENGE
Don’t let anyone tell you that full-time ministry can only be found within the confines of a church building. God is bigger than four walls and a steeple. Take your current situation and workplace as your personal mission field. Why? Because you can reach people a church can’t. You’re on the front lines! And make it personal. God has put the people around you in your life for a reason. Find out what that reason is, and make it your mission to empower people’s lives with Christ.
DISCUSS
Discuss ways we can serve others in the likeness of God.
How does serving others provide meaning and purpose to you?
How does serving others provide meaning to the people you serve?
30 Words Daily Devotion
WORD 28 - SERVANT
“I am Thy servant to do Thy will, and that will is sweeter to me than position or riches or fame, and I choose it above all things on Earth or in Heaven.”
―A. W. Tozer
Consider these three questions:
1. Do you call yourself a Christian?
2. Do you believe in the power of God’s word?
3. Do you believe the Bible is the inerrant and inspired word of God?
If you answered “yes” to these questions, congratulations! You’ve just applied yourself to a life of full-time ministry.
Some of you are thinking things like, “But I don’t work at a church,” or “But I don’t work for a Christian company,” or “But I don’t have time.” Let’s study what it means to live a life for Christ.
Philippians 1:21 offers this definition: “For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.” If you claim to be a Christian, your life is meant to be lived for him. Meaning, you have all the time in the world to do what you’ve been called to do in the first place.
Galatians 2:20 states, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” If you claim to be a Christian, then it is no longer you who lives, but Christ who lives in you. It’s his agenda, not ours.
Finally, Romans 8:28 reminds us, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” If you are in Christ, God can use your current situation and workplace for his purpose, with no exceptions.
Some Christians I know call this “missional living.” The idea is that that you adopt the mentality and behavior of a missionary no matter what you’re doing in life, whether that’s talking to your next-door neighbor, attending a business meeting, or going on vacation. “Missional living” doesn’t mean you’re constantly interrupting every conversation with, “Do you know Jesus as your personal savior?” But it does mean that you’re living a life that actively shares the gospel with everyone you encounter.
The reality is, we are all called to full-time ministry, no matter where we work. Jesus isn’t hiring part-time followers. Make it count.
VERSE OF THE DAY
“O Lord, I am your servant; yes, I am your servant, born into your household; you have freed me from my chains” (Psalm 116:16).
CHALLENGE
Don’t let anyone tell you that full-time ministry can only be found within the confines of a church building. God is bigger than four walls and a steeple. Take your current situation and workplace as your personal mission field. Why? Because you can reach people a church can’t. You’re on the front lines! And make it personal. God has put the people around you in your life for a reason. Find out what that reason is, and make it your mission to empower people’s lives with Christ.
DISCUSS
Wilson, J. (2016). 30 words: a devotional for the rest of us. (2nd Edition, Ed.) (pp. 164–167). Bellingham, WA: Kirkdale Press.