What does God have for you?

When Lew Alcindor, later to become Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, was being recruited in High School by nearly every college in the country he would ask each coach what he would learn from them. Almost every coach told him he could do whatever he wanted. All but Coach Wooden from UCLA. John Wooden told him how he would teach him different aspects of the center position. Now, of course the rest is history. As Christians, when we attend church, what are we looking for? I am not going to give a list of things that I think pastors should be teaching their flocks. I want you to think about the maturity and growth you should be seeking as a viable member. What does God have for you, to do?

"to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4:12-13

Remember in Ephesians 2:10 Paul teaches the truth that God has prepared good works for us to do in advance . Too often we go to church only to seek a warm-fuzzy and leave. Membership without service is like going to your job and sitting in the parking lot all day. You're technically at the work site, but effectively not on the job. If you don't check in and work, you don't get paid. If you "attend" church and that is all you do, you miss out on the service and maturity and growth God has for you. 

The end goal is that you become a mature functioning member of the faith, attaining the fullness of Christ. Where do you start? 

Here's the to do's: You start by asking God to show you what you can do to serve your church. The best place to start is with the need you see. Ask God to give you one person to minister to each time you attend church. Do  you see someone who no-one is talking to? Go say hello. 

If you catch yourself thinking, "You know, someone ought to take care of..." maybe that is God prodding you. 

Father, help us to step out in faith that we can do all things in Christ who strengthens us. Use us to build up our church's and reach out to this desperate world. Praise be to you in us today!