Finding New Purpose

Here at Messiah Lutheran Church in Yorba Linda, we seem to have a miraculous confluence of honor, duty, and helpfulness; either that or our fellowship is blessed with an abundance of Eagle Scouts. This manifests itself in Eagle Scout projects that benefit our church, our campus, and our community. Over the years, we have enjoyed Eagle Scout projects that have created permanent planters bordered by seating areas, information gazebos, walkways, room remodels, pocket parks, and more. This past week saw another such Eagle Scout Project installed on our campus.

Grant Bagne is an awesome young scout on his way to Eagle. For his project he envisioned turning a tired planter and walkway into a patio that would give us additional outdoor small group meeting space. The completed result looks great, has created a flexible space, and will be utilized by the various groups that meet in our Joy Center. Thanks, Grant!

Grant removed the big decorative stones, ripped out decades old plants, and created a hole… bordered by a concrete walkway that was still in great shape. Into the hole went the sand and gravel base, and then the paving stones were placed into a very organic space to create a beautiful and functional patio. Hedge plants that will create a privacy screen were then added to the edge, and … an area with no real use had suddenly found purpose again.

Marveling at how nice his project had turned out, and envisioning all the people it will bless, I couldn’t help thinking about God at work in our lives. As Christians we should accept finding new purpose as a given:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. - 2 Corinthians 5:17

We often struggle to keep the old; the old planter, the old habits, the old familiar way of doing things. If an old contemplation walkway, can find new purpose, we should be open to the times when God’s Holy Spirit goes to work on us… to create new purpose in our lives, our churches, and our communities. If we can give approval to a Boy Scout to give an area of our church new purpose, why can we not let God give US a new purpose? Too often God hears: “I’m fine as I am, Lord; I’ll come to church, but don’t ask me to change anything.” You can’t be a new creation in Christ sunk in the old foundations of tradition, ritual, and habit! It’s time to declare a new purpose… by faith!

I am… A new creation created in Christ, conformed by his love.

I am… A new creation created for worship and passionate praise.

I am… A new creation fearfully and wonderfully made.

I am… A new creation…
OLD things are gone;
OLD ways are gone.

We at Messiah are… A new creation…
NEW things are here;
NEW ways are here;
NEW hope is here;
NEW life is here!

Come visit with us on Sunday to find out about all the ways you can start to experience what being a new creation is all about. Come and find new purpose. In God’s purpose, you will find joy!

Your brother in Christ,

Dave