I now serve the good news because God gave me his grace. His power is at work in me.

Ephesians 3:7

Grace empowers us to live a most fulfilling and productive life.

If we ever excuse ourselves from involvement and become dull and visionless, it means that the gospel hasn't fully taken root in our hearts. Any Christian who uses grace to justify their apathy or complacency is unaware of what Christ has done for them. The opposite is also true. Any Christian who serves out of dread and fear has a skewed understanding of the gospel. Both groups of Christians sometimes swing to extremes, causing them to forsake their first love in the process.

The gospel frees everyone from the burden of sin and guilt, and it is from this gospel rest we have in Christ that empowers us to serve alongside Him. Somehow some believers interpret rest as doing nothing or remaining idle. Their definition of rest is not inspired by the gospel because it breeds laziness, and laziness is fake rest. And Jesus is against laziness and a lukewarm attitude towards the things of God (Matthew 25:26); Revelation 3:14-22).

While it is true that our Christian life is hidden in Christ rather than our performance, we must not confuse performance with purpose. What performance is all about is trying to earn what God has given as a gift. Purpose is the process of possessing the promises that come with our gift of salvation. The more you discover the gospel, the more you discover your purpose.

The person who knows his or her purpose is at rest.

Why?

Knowing your God-given purpose will cause you to put an end to your frenetic search for identity and meaning, as well as for validation and approval from others. Like the Apostle Paul, you can best fulfil your purpose by sowing and serving the good news—not by compulsion, but by revelation. This pleases God because He eagerly awaits the day when Christ returns to reward you for your good works.