I would like to bring to your remembrance one example of this. In Esther, you know the story; the key words are chapter 4 verse 14:
“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place… And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”
For dense people like me, the New Testament reveals this idea more specifically in Ephesians 2:10, where Paul is speaking to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
So the Old Testament showed Gods plans for people to DO something, but it was for specific people to what we might think are great things. Maybe we can tell ourselves we can’t do that.
But the New Testament reveals it to us, we have no escape. Clearly there are things planned for you and me, and it is up to us to do them. The hard part is to realize what those plans are. Or maybe the hard part is in our heads, because we don’t want to accept the mission.
Perhaps we can’t all go on a mission, but we CAN all DO good works. Let me remind you of some possibilities. After discussing at length some features of proper worship, Paul concludes with I Corinthians 14:40, “Everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.” What can your good work be to help achieve this command? Or perhaps you know Matthew 25:40 applies to you, so you look for ways to do unto the least of these. The New Testament has many other commands for us to consider an opportunity for good works.
The key is Christianity is not a spectator sport. Nor is it an old age rest home. It is an opportunity to glorify Christ Jesus by doing what He has planned for us to do.
In His Service,
Harry
