Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul once wrote to Timothy a familiar verse: “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost” (1 Timothy 1:15 ESV). What is not so familiar is the next verse, where he wrote: “But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.” Paul understood a couple of things of which he wrote in these two verses: (1) That he was the chief among the sinners of his time, and thus he needed the salvation Christ offers, and (2) that he had received that mercy for a reason – he had work to do. Like Paul, each one of us has been set apart from the world for a purpose. Paul also wrote “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). No doubt, the church is holy – that is, the church (which means you and me individually as well as collectively) has been sanctified, set apart for God’s special purpose. What purpose is that? The Scriptures say that purpose is good works. The obligation is placed upon every one of us to fulfill that responsibility. In Romans 12:4-5, we are told that each individual within the church is …