#1520. God has created us for purpose (20/5/26)

Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional (posted, at present, every weekday) as we continue our Stewardship series.

God has formed us and has given us abilities that are to be invested in God’s service.

To watch this devotional, please select the link below:

If we were to select a tool from a tool box, it’s important that we use it for the right things and in the right way. Likewise, every human being has a God-given design. 

Firstly, we have a shared, generic, design - to know God and glorify Him. However, we also have a specific design and purpose. God has created each of us with different gifts and opportunities. 

In our reading today, we read of Bezalel and Oholiab who were called, skilled and empowered by the Spirit for God’s work in building the Tabernacle. 

These men were special, but we are all special! We, like them, are known and created with gifts and for God’s good works.

Response

Of Bezalel, God says, 

I hope we find it reassuring to know that God fills us with the things required to accomplish His will. We are not Swiss army knife with lots of functions, but we do have a few things that, in God, we can do with great effectiveness for Him.

The reading goes on to say:

If God wills and commands a thing, He will equip. 

Today, let’s be freshly humble and encouraged to rely on God’s equipping and trust that where He calls, He will equip. 

This year we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of CCP; to watch our anniversary video, please select the link below:

Community Group Study

1. Notices

It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News. 

2. Icebreaker

How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week, and how has this helped you? 

3. Worship together

Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.

4. Study and pray together

Balanced Time Allocation - Please ensure a balanced focus on discussion, SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite), and prayer so that each section is meaningful and fruitful.

On Sunday, we began our new series entitles: 

Stewardship - A teaching series on how we are to use the good things that God gives to us.  

‘Steward’ translates the Greek ‘oikonómos’, which means to be a manager, trustee, a holder of a commission. 

Each of us have be entrusted with gifts and opportunities - time, talents, and treasures -  that are to be used in service for God. 

During this series, we will cover some vital areas of good stewardship: Gifts, Time, Money, Eternal Reward.

Please read 1 Peter 4:10-11and discuss:

• Personal Reflection – What inspired you, or what did God speak to you about through Sunday’s message?

• How would you describe stewardship?

• What are the various things that God has given us to steward?

• What does our text teach about how we can remain faithful in our stewardship?

• What aspect of stewardship do you feel that you need to focus on? 

SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite)

• How does stewardship make us a light for Christ? 

• Share Stories – Have you had any recent opportunities to Serve, Invest in, or Invite someone toward Jesus? Let’s encourage one another by sharing testimonies of God at work through us.

• Practical Next Steps – Who is God putting on your heart to reach? Are there any ‘people of peace’ (*see note) in your life—those who are receptive to you and spiritual conversation?

Let’s pray together: 

• Let’s pray for one another based on our study, and bring before God any other needs or requests for prayer.

• Pray for one another's SIV opportunities and boldness in following the Spirit's promptings.

• Pray specifically for the “people of peace” in our lives—asking God to open hearts and provide opportunities to speak life and truth.