Dear Family and Friends,

Those of you who know me well know that it took an earthquake and tsunami in Japan to move me to become a pastor. And it took a cultural crisis at the church to move me to become the executive pastor.

My story is not the first of God finding a way to redeem adversity. Nor will it be the last. And let me be honest, if I didn’t answer the call, God would have called someone else.

Let’s spend our time today talking about how God redeems adversity. In particular, the adversity called Covid that stopped us from going to church and serving others.

Prior to the pandemic, many of us were faithful servants – in and outside the church.

Were you one of those who served at church every weekend, watching anxiously for the fruit of your labor – God moving in someone’s life?

Or were you one of the many who helped hand out tons of food to those in our community in need, especially the ones who lost their jobs to Covid?

Would you agree that it felt good? Serving was not work, serving was a fulfilling life experience.

So, what happened?

Covid hit and according to Pastor Carey Nieuwhof, the many who took a break three years ago are still on break.

I imagine right about now there are a rush of questions popping into your heads.

Should I be feeling uncomfortable or perhaps a bit guilty? Should I go back and serve? Why do we serve? Don’t I get to retire from serving?

These are all valid questions. Let’s see what the Bible has to tell us today.

We begin with: Why should we serve?

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 NIV

Do good works? But weren’t we saved by grace?

Yes, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

Verses 8 and 9 make it clear we are saved by grace; not by our works but by grace alone.

But Paul’s thoughts didn’t stop with verse 9. He continued on in verse 10, telling us that we were created for good works. Telling us that our salvation should lead us to the life of good works He prepared us for.

This is a good time to clarify that good works is not another way of saying – serving. Serving at church is just one way of doing good works. There are many other ways to do good works and fulfill God’s purpose for our lives.

Okay, but will there ever come a time when we can retire?

Although this was years ago, I still remember a short conversation with a dear friend between services.

After catching up a bit, the conversation somehow shifted to my quest to find my replacement. I really wanted to start my long awaited retirement.

As she stared at me with her big brown eyes, she matter-of-factly said something I will never forget.

‘Pastor, no one in the Bible ever retired!’

My friends, as we start a new season in our life with Jesus, consider this – God has a purpose for each and every one of us. It may be serving in a church or something entirely different.

Whatever that purpose may be, it may last until we take our last breath, just as it did for David.

“Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed.”  Acts 13:36 NIV

Yes, I know that sounded a bit gruesome. So here’s one final reason to not retire from doing good works. 

There will come a day when we too will get to tell God, “It is finished.”  (John 19:30 NIV). And on that day Jesus will reply, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Matthew 25:21 NIV

Convinced? If so, the next question is: What’s next?

We just started babysitting our three-month old grandson. The experience brings back fond memories.

It’s also reminding us that our youth has left the building. Quite honestly, I wonder how we managed.

Join me for a moment and reflect back on your years of serving. Are you wondering where you got all that energy?

So, as we start a new season, how else can we continue to glorify God through good works?

This is a question each of us will have to pose to God.

In the meantime, here are a few passages that give us a hint of what may come.

Your new season might usher in new and greater responsibilities.

“You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”   Matthew 25:21 NIV

You may find yourself switching roles, going from being equipped to equipping others.

“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”  Ephesians 4:11-12 NIV

Feeling insecure, unqualified, or maybe even disqualified? Read this passage and believe in what God can do through you.

“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 

God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. 

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.”  1 Corinthians 1:26-30 NIV

So, how does God redeem adversity? Through folks like you and me…

In love always,