Invited to Create with Purpose: How to Work as an Act of Worship, Not Performance

“Look, I am making all things new.” Revelation 21:5

With a New Year upon us, I’m reminded that we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to re-create and transform into new people—with new priorities, rhythms, and dreams. Don’t get me wrong, I’m one of the ones eagerly anticipating a new year, as if ripping off the band-aid to a fresh start is exactly what I need to motivate me onward in the work I have to do.

But what if our anticipation is misplaced? What if changing habits and routines was less about what the end result would be, and more about the process altogether

Could it be that the transformation we seek is actually driven by the Creator who dwells within us?

If so, then what are we created for?

Created on purpose

Our invitation to create new things is a reflection of our own purposed creation. While we were still formless, God and Christ saw fit to make us in their likeness (Genesis 1:26). 

But we get lost in the weeds about this, don’t we?

Knowing we are created on purpose, with a purpose and for a purpose, we sometimes go down the rabbit hole of creating rhythms and norms that subsequently inundate us with unbearable pressures of performance.

We begin striving—

In our jobs

In our relationships

In our homes

In our spiritual walk

In our Kingdom work

Unfortunately, the awareness of our creation, becomes a stumbling block to the Creator.

And if we’re being honest, it becomes an exhausting cycle of performance, rather than an awareness to worship.

If the attention and details belonged to Him in the beginning, then we can trust Him to create wholeness within us, despite our misplaced motives.

Creation as our inspiration

When we find ourselves sidetracked and discouraged about our progress, further feeding the need to overhaul our lives, let’s let creation be our gauge and set our pace.

Just as the lifecycle of a flower begins in darkness and must overcome the elements to burst forth into new light, may we too be gentle with ourselves in the process.

When we feel like we’re grasping at straws to produce something of quality (and sometimes quantity...ouch), it’s tempting to believe the lie that if we just work harder, sacrificed more time or had more resources, we could do what God’s asking us to do.

But this tension isn’t from Him. Instead, it’s our red flag back to Him.

Apart from Him, we can do nothing of value, withstanding or transformative. The power of Creation dwells within the Creator. John 15:5 reminds us that—

“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.” [CSB]

The truth is, our place in Creation will always be an extension of Him.

Purposed creators of the Kingdom

Instead of overhauling our lives in one fell swoop, Christ invites us to show up in the messy middle of the everyday and glorify Him there. You see, our invitation to create with Him is less about the end result, and all about the transformative work that takes place within us.

And as God transforms and renews us individually, He’s also gathering us up to share in a collective work that serves as a reflection of His glory.

If we are imitators of Christ, creating alongside and for Him, our lives then, become a beacon of hope for a hurting world.

We are no longer bound to the metrics and normalcies of this world, but instead, we’re graciously invited into a work that expands the elements of time and achievement.

When we cling to Him we’re propelled into the world to create with purpose and on purpose.

Our work becomes about listening, noticing, serving, praying, and enduring.

Showing up to our own lives, however imperfect and unkept they may be, becomes the clay the Potter uses to make all things new—for you, for me and for those in our everyday circles.

Thankfully, our invitation to participate will always start with us showing up right where we are, being used and transformed just as we are.