December 29th, 2025
by Steven Shaw
by Steven Shaw
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Matthew 5:14–16 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Devotional: From Recovery to Purpose
God did not just save you from something — He saved you for something.
Every believer has a divine purpose, and every redeemed life is a living testimony of His grace. The journey of recovery is not merely about breaking chains; it’s about discovering your calling. Healing is not the finish line — it’s the starting point of a new mission. Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that we are God’s workmanship — His masterpiece, handcrafted by the Creator Himself. The Greek word used here, poiēma, means a work of art or creation. You are not an accident or an afterthought. You are an intentional design, redeemed through Christ and recreated for good works that God prepared long before you ever took your first breath. Many people spend years searching for purpose, chasing careers, approval, or identity. But Scripture teaches that purpose isn’t something you invent — it’s something you inherit. It’s found in Christ. As we grow in Him, our desires begin to align with His heart, and our lives start to reflect His glory through the way we love, serve, and lead others.
Redeemed Pain, Repurposed Life
There is nothing in your story that God cannot redeem for His glory. The same scars that once represented your brokenness can now serve as signposts of His healing power. When you serve others from a place of redemption, your past becomes a platform for hope. The world doesn’t need perfect people — it needs restored ones who point others to Jesus through authenticity and love. Think about it: Jesus didn’t call perfect men to be His disciples; He called fishermen, tax collectors, and zealots. All were unfaithful. He called people with rough edges and imperfect stories, transforming them into vessels of grace. In the same way, God can use your experience — your failures, your victories, your pain — as a tool for someone else’s healing.
2 Corinthians 1:3–4 declares,
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
When you serve from your story, you’re not just helping others; you’re multiplying God’s comfort.
Your Light Was Meant to Shine
In Matthew 5:14–16, Jesus tells His followers, “You are the light of the world.”
Notice — He doesn’t say try to be the light; He says you are the light. That identity flows directly from belonging to Him. The same light that pierced the darkness of your addiction, shame, or confusion now shines through you to guide others. But light must be seen to fulfill its purpose. “No one lights a lamp and hides it under a basket,” Jesus said. Too many believers keep their testimony private out of fear, guilt, or shame. Yet the power of the Gospel is displayed when we let others see how far God has brought us. Your story is not meant to stay silent — it’s meant to illuminate hope.
Every act of service, every word of encouragement, every small obedience is a spark of light in someone else’s darkness. You don’t have to preach from a pulpit to glorify God. You can do it through kindness, humility, and faithful love in the ordinary moments of life. When you let your light shine, others see not just you — they see Him. Jesus said, “...so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Our purpose is never self-promotion; it’s reflection. We shine not to be admired but to point others to the One who shines through us.
Service: The Rhythm of Renewal
Serving others is both an expression and a continuation of recovery. When you begin to serve, you step into God’s rhythm — outflow follows inflow. What you receive from Him is meant to flow through you. The healthiest believers are those who pour out what God pours in. In the early Church, believers shared their possessions, opened their homes, and served one another with gladness (Acts 2:44–47). Their joy wasn’t rooted in comfort but in purpose. They found fulfillment in giving because service connects us to the heart of Christ — the One who “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). When you serve, you don’t lose yourself — you discover who you were always meant to be.
Application
Ask God how He might use your story to reach others.
You don’t need a title or platform to serve — just willingness. God does His greatest work through ordinary obedience.
Remember: Your scars are not signs of defeat; they are the fingerprints of God’s redemption.
Prayer
Father God, thank You for creating me with purpose.
You did not waste my pain, and You are writing beauty out of brokenness. Help me to see every day as an opportunity to serve others for Your glory. Use my recovery story to point people to Your grace. Keep me humble in service, faithful in obedience, and bold in love. Make my life a reflection of Your workmanship — a living testimony of Your mercy. Let my light shine not for my name, but for Yours.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection
Daily Action Step
Do one act of service or encouragement today — big or small — in gratitude for God’s grace. Write a note to someone who’s struggling, volunteer at church, share your testimony, or simply pray with a friend. Every act of love is a step in your purpose.
More Scripture for Further Growth
Your purpose was written long before your pain — and when you walk in that purpose, others will see the light of Christ through your life.
Pray over these Scriptures. Don’t just read them — let them speak to you. Take time to read the full chapters they belong to, and allow the Holy Spirit to bring deeper understanding. These additional verses are here for those who feel a growing hunger for more each day. As your journey continues, let God’s Word become your daily source of renewal, conviction, and strength.
Matthew 5:14–16 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Devotional: From Recovery to Purpose
God did not just save you from something — He saved you for something.
Every believer has a divine purpose, and every redeemed life is a living testimony of His grace. The journey of recovery is not merely about breaking chains; it’s about discovering your calling. Healing is not the finish line — it’s the starting point of a new mission. Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that we are God’s workmanship — His masterpiece, handcrafted by the Creator Himself. The Greek word used here, poiēma, means a work of art or creation. You are not an accident or an afterthought. You are an intentional design, redeemed through Christ and recreated for good works that God prepared long before you ever took your first breath. Many people spend years searching for purpose, chasing careers, approval, or identity. But Scripture teaches that purpose isn’t something you invent — it’s something you inherit. It’s found in Christ. As we grow in Him, our desires begin to align with His heart, and our lives start to reflect His glory through the way we love, serve, and lead others.
Redeemed Pain, Repurposed Life
There is nothing in your story that God cannot redeem for His glory. The same scars that once represented your brokenness can now serve as signposts of His healing power. When you serve others from a place of redemption, your past becomes a platform for hope. The world doesn’t need perfect people — it needs restored ones who point others to Jesus through authenticity and love. Think about it: Jesus didn’t call perfect men to be His disciples; He called fishermen, tax collectors, and zealots. All were unfaithful. He called people with rough edges and imperfect stories, transforming them into vessels of grace. In the same way, God can use your experience — your failures, your victories, your pain — as a tool for someone else’s healing.
2 Corinthians 1:3–4 declares,
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
When you serve from your story, you’re not just helping others; you’re multiplying God’s comfort.
Your Light Was Meant to Shine
In Matthew 5:14–16, Jesus tells His followers, “You are the light of the world.”
Notice — He doesn’t say try to be the light; He says you are the light. That identity flows directly from belonging to Him. The same light that pierced the darkness of your addiction, shame, or confusion now shines through you to guide others. But light must be seen to fulfill its purpose. “No one lights a lamp and hides it under a basket,” Jesus said. Too many believers keep their testimony private out of fear, guilt, or shame. Yet the power of the Gospel is displayed when we let others see how far God has brought us. Your story is not meant to stay silent — it’s meant to illuminate hope.
Every act of service, every word of encouragement, every small obedience is a spark of light in someone else’s darkness. You don’t have to preach from a pulpit to glorify God. You can do it through kindness, humility, and faithful love in the ordinary moments of life. When you let your light shine, others see not just you — they see Him. Jesus said, “...so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Our purpose is never self-promotion; it’s reflection. We shine not to be admired but to point others to the One who shines through us.
Service: The Rhythm of Renewal
Serving others is both an expression and a continuation of recovery. When you begin to serve, you step into God’s rhythm — outflow follows inflow. What you receive from Him is meant to flow through you. The healthiest believers are those who pour out what God pours in. In the early Church, believers shared their possessions, opened their homes, and served one another with gladness (Acts 2:44–47). Their joy wasn’t rooted in comfort but in purpose. They found fulfillment in giving because service connects us to the heart of Christ — the One who “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). When you serve, you don’t lose yourself — you discover who you were always meant to be.
Application
Ask God how He might use your story to reach others.
- Who around you needs encouragement today?
- What doors of service has He already opened in your church, workplace, or family?
- Is there a ministry, outreach, or recovery group where your experiences could bring hope to others walking the same road?
You don’t need a title or platform to serve — just willingness. God does His greatest work through ordinary obedience.
Remember: Your scars are not signs of defeat; they are the fingerprints of God’s redemption.
Prayer
Father God, thank You for creating me with purpose.
You did not waste my pain, and You are writing beauty out of brokenness. Help me to see every day as an opportunity to serve others for Your glory. Use my recovery story to point people to Your grace. Keep me humble in service, faithful in obedience, and bold in love. Make my life a reflection of Your workmanship — a living testimony of Your mercy. Let my light shine not for my name, but for Yours.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection
- How has God turned my pain into purpose?
- Who might need to hear my story this week?
- What opportunities has God already placed before me to serve?
- Do I view my work, my family, and my church as mission fields?
- What might happen if I stopped hiding my light and started shining it?
Daily Action Step
Do one act of service or encouragement today — big or small — in gratitude for God’s grace. Write a note to someone who’s struggling, volunteer at church, share your testimony, or simply pray with a friend. Every act of love is a step in your purpose.
More Scripture for Further Growth
- Romans 12:1–2 — Present your bodies as a living sacrifice.
- 1 Peter 4:10–11 — Use your gifts to serve others as good stewards of God’s grace.
- Philippians 2:3–7 — Have the same mind as Christ, who humbled Himself to serve.
- Colossians 3:23–24 — Whatever you do, work heartily as for the Lord.
- John 13:12–15 — Jesus washes His disciples’ feet as an example of humble service.
- 2 Corinthians 4:6–7 — We carry the treasure of the Gospel in jars of clay, showing that the power belongs to God.
Your purpose was written long before your pain — and when you walk in that purpose, others will see the light of Christ through your life.
Pray over these Scriptures. Don’t just read them — let them speak to you. Take time to read the full chapters they belong to, and allow the Holy Spirit to bring deeper understanding. These additional verses are here for those who feel a growing hunger for more each day. As your journey continues, let God’s Word become your daily source of renewal, conviction, and strength.
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