"For by grace you have been saved by grace 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
Rick doesn't reference this bible passage, but it's immediately what came to my mind. His "saved to serve" is an incredibly Lutheran concept. Luther probably would have stated it a bit differently...but with much the same meaning. I think he would have said, "We are set free to serve." Biblically of course, being set free, restored, and healed are what "salvation" actually means.
It changes the paradigm for life doesn't it? In waters of baptism we are joined to the death and resurrection of Jesus -- which means that we are joined to his MISSION...his very purpose in life for this creation. Which means our death and resurrection (our being set free or our salvation) is for the purpose of God's mission in the world.
It is setting us free because it frees us to surrender our own agendas and self-centeredness (never perfectly) to follow Jesus into the mission field of the world, serving his purposes for the sake of the world.
This morning, hopefully you will come to church, will immerse one of your hands in the baptismal waters, and then inscribe a large, wet, cross on your forehead...a reminder of the baptism that sets you free to be on a journey with the Living God for the sake of his world creating and restoring purposes in the midst of this life.
May you discover your life's purpose in Christ's cross and resurrection...and may you discover deeply and profoundly just how powerfully you have been saved to serve (make a difference) in the life of the world.
With heavy eyes and a days fatigue...
Pastor Nathan
Rick doesn't reference this bible passage, but it's immediately what came to my mind. His "saved to serve" is an incredibly Lutheran concept. Luther probably would have stated it a bit differently...but with much the same meaning. I think he would have said, "We are set free to serve." Biblically of course, being set free, restored, and healed are what "salvation" actually means.
It changes the paradigm for life doesn't it? In waters of baptism we are joined to the death and resurrection of Jesus -- which means that we are joined to his MISSION...his very purpose in life for this creation. Which means our death and resurrection (our being set free or our salvation) is for the purpose of God's mission in the world.
It is setting us free because it frees us to surrender our own agendas and self-centeredness (never perfectly) to follow Jesus into the mission field of the world, serving his purposes for the sake of the world.
This morning, hopefully you will come to church, will immerse one of your hands in the baptismal waters, and then inscribe a large, wet, cross on your forehead...a reminder of the baptism that sets you free to be on a journey with the Living God for the sake of his world creating and restoring purposes in the midst of this life.
May you discover your life's purpose in Christ's cross and resurrection...and may you discover deeply and profoundly just how powerfully you have been saved to serve (make a difference) in the life of the world.
With heavy eyes and a days fatigue...
Pastor Nathan
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2 comments:
I never thought of it this way. Being saved to serve. Wow, I feel different when I think of it this way. Sick, must sleep. Why am I up this late!
Thanks for checking in and conversing. Get well Renee!
pn
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