God does not liberate us so that we can live for ourselves. He sets us free for His purposes.

God liberates us to serve Him.

This truth is the basis for Sunday’s sermon, on August 31, 2025, named “Saved to Serve,” and it is based on the scripture, Exodus 7:4-16.

During the time that Moses was called as an instrument to deliver the Israelites from the hand of Pharaoh, God’s people were slaves to serving Pharaoh’s gods.

But Yahweh wanted the Israelites’ worship for Himself and Himself alone.

Pharaoh owned the Israelites Abad (pronounced Avod), which is Hebrew for a person’s work, service, and worship.

But God wanted their Abad to be committed to Himself.

The sermon stipulates that devotion to God gives us purpose in our work, service, and worship.

To start off, God gives us work to provide provision for us. We are freed to work for Him.

Positionally, God is Lord over our labor. Thus, there are questions we can ask Him about how to approach work, such as:

God, show me where I can make an impact?
God, where does my labor go with you and where does my work go against Your ways?
God, show me where my work is aimed at dependence on You?

Not only does God ask us to devote our work to Him, He also wants our service. He wants us to serve others by focusing on God first.

We can say to ourselves, “I’m serving these people because I love You, God.” Having this mindset will transform us into Christlike servants.

Finally, devotion to God means that we worship Him exclusively. God wants us to praise His name over all else.

In summary, unlimited access and total freedom is not for ourselves, but for work, service, and worship that is devoted to God.

God gives us a purpose in these three things to give Him what He Himself delights in.

And as we delight in what God delights in, we will be blessed.

Beyond measure.

—Ann Elizabeth Yeager