Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Created For Good Works

My friends at The Well and I are doing a quick read through the book, "Holy Discontent" by Bill Hybels. This is part of our exploration of the mission and purpose that God has for us as individuals, and for our church.

We're getting to the meat of the book now and I want to share a quote from this book that I hope will challenge you to consider your holy discontent--the good works God wants you to invest yourself in.

"Ephesians 2:10 says that 'we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.'

"We were all created to do good works. I was created to do good works. Just as confidently, I'm here to tell you that you were created to do good works, which explains how I know that you have a holy discontent banging around in your brain somewhere--if you're alive and kicking today, then there is a specific work that you are expected to do. There is a set of tasks with your name on it that God has given you to accomplish, and long before you actually arrived on the scene, God planted certain seeds in your soul that he remains whole-heartedly committed to watering, growing and making into something beautiful, if you will let him.

"God is looking for someone just like you--someone who gets wrecked on planet Earth by the things that wreck him up in heaven--so that he can sign you up for service. I assure you that there is something out there that God is waiting for you to grab on to so that he can use you to help solve it. It wrecks you, it wrecks him, and he is ready for you both to do something about it."(Hybels, Bill. "Holy Discontent: Fueling the Fire that Ignites Personal Vision." Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2007.)

What's your holy discontent? What are you doing about it? It's what you were created for. If you're not sure what it is, then I'd encourage you to 1) pick up a copy of this book 2) read it 3)get on your knees and pray 4)get up and go explore some of the hurt and pain in this world and allow God to reveal your holy discontent to you.

By the way...I've got 2 extra copies of this book. I'll sell 'em cheap if somebody out there wants a copy.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hi Ryan. I doubt you remember me. I am Tabitha Smiths sister. This resonates with me on so many levels. My husband and I just got off a fast. We needed clear direction, purpose, and to be on the same page. God put it so strong in our hearts about just getting out the door and reaching out to the hurting and the lost. Last Friday a friend said he felt God wanted us to watch this video called "Finger of God". I think we cried the whole way through it. It was story after story of people just walking out the door and reaching out..it was videos of how amazing the underground churches are in China. The four walls of the church are good but it's been getting a little stuffy and stale because we are just feeding ourselves and God did not call us into a selfish christian walk..

Anyway..I would love a copy of the book if you still have extras. If not I will find it. My email is christiannamiller@hotmail.com.

I talked to Tabitha about all of this last night and she said I needed to read your blog...Thanks Ryan..how timely!

God Bless,
Christy Miller