The 1891 version of the Baltimore Catechism asks, "Why did God make you?" It answers, "God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world and to be happy with Him forever in heaven.”
The document then asks a question regarding salvation, "What must we do to save our souls?" The text answers, “To save our souls, we must worship God by faith, hope, and charity; that is, we must believe in Him, hope in Him, and love Him with all our heart."
Why God Made Us
The key sentence as it pertains to our Christian walk reads, "God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world and to be happy with Him forever in heaven."
Put another way, we must learn about God, love him in an intimate relationship, and live our lives in service. We must use our heads, our hearts, and our hands. And when we know, love, and serve God, it is Jesus Christ we know, love, and serve.
We Give God Our Head, Our heart, and Our Hands.
We know God by his Word, through reading, studying, and meditating on scripture, especially the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We love God by having a vibrant and intimate vertical relationship with him through prayer.
We serve him by serving others as Jesus calls us to do and as he did throughout his ministry.
This this three-fold reality is the central message of the Gospel we should obediently pursue in whatever way God leads us. Ultimately, if we know, love and serve God, we worship him by believing in him, loving him with all our heart, and hoping for the salvation of our souls.
Additional reading:
Listen to God's Words
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and, love your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27)
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:10-11)
Also read: Samuel 12:24, Matthew 5:8, John 1:18
In the Words of Others
“Only by aligning our wills with God’s is full happiness found.” Neal A. Maxwell
“There's a difference between knowing God and knowing about God. When you truly know God, you have energy to serve Him, boldness to share Him, and contentment in Him.” J. I. Packer
“Don’t shine so others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see Him.” C.S. Lewis
Think About It
Describe the ways you try to know Jesus Christ better. Are there other ways you can do this?
Do you have a daily routine that helps you grow in your knowledge of Jesus Christ? If so, describe it.
Describe ways you display your love of Jesus Christ and experience intimacy with him. How do you feel spiritually then? Do you feel energized spiritually? Why?