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Fires burn brightly only as long as they’re stoked.

This past Sunday, you had the opportunity to commit to new levels in your relationship with God. You boldly filled out your card, and in a wave of momentum, turned in it.

Had any second thoughts since? Had any doubts that you’ll actually be able to meet that financial commitment, or fit that area of service into your busy schedule? That’s not such a bad thing. It means that you’ve given God room to work and that without new dependence on him, it’s not going to happen.

God delights in our dependence on him, you know. He waits for us to ask for help. But when we have all the answers already or we do things in our own strength, we leave no opportunity for him to be glorified. It becomes about what we can do, rather than what he can do through us.

In coming weeks, as the lessons of Treasures of the Transformed Life settle into your consciousness, it will be possible for you to lose steam and to forget what it was all about. On the other hand, you could take what you’ve learned and build on it.

Remember that very first chapter, the one that talked about not even realizing your thirst? Over the past forty days, you gained new insight into how thirsty you really were, and discovered that the only thing that will really satisfy is pure, living water, poured into your life through consistent prayer, Bible study, acts of service, fellowship with other Christians, and regular financial gifts.

That kind of water is not the type that puts out a fire. Rather, it’s the kind that stokes it, and allows us to burn so brightly that we draw others to us like moths to a flame. So what will you do to keep that fire burning brightly, keeping the principles of the last few weeks in the forefront?

How about this? The next time you see a glass of water—and every time thereafter—you’ll be compelled to take a long, satisfying drink. It is that living water that transforms us, until that day when we don’t even recognize who we used to be.

Remember being a kid and waiting expectantly during the days leading up to Christmas? You were probably on your best behavior, making sure that if Santa really did check that list twice, you’d be on the right side of it. Hours felt like days, and days felt like weeks, until the moment finally arrived: Christmas morning.

If you were like most children, you probably hopped out of bed before dawn, before your parents were even awake, and headed expectantly for the gifts wrapped and waiting under the tree. Who knew what wonders awaited?

This week, as we read through the last part of Treasures of the Transformed Life, we’re headed toward another wonderfully special event: Commitment Sunday. That’s the day you’ll be able to commit your prayers, presence, service, and financial gifts to the church for the coming season. And just like Christmas morning, you have no idea what wonders await.

See, God always meets us where we are. And any time we take a step closer to him, he responds likewise by stepping closer to us. When we’re ready to say yes to all that he asks of us, we can know for certain that he will richly reward us for it, and continue to draw us closer into relationship with him.

This Sunday, even if you feel the tiniest bit apprehensive about taking the next step, rely on your faith to get you there. Consider what Vincent Van Gogh said about doubt in this week’s study: “If you hear a voice within you say ‘You are not a painter,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.”

The master painter, the one who created you with beautiful strokes of his brush, awaits. So as your special day arrives, greet it with expectancy and know that God will honor your new levels of commitment and help you stand firm. Keep this in mind:

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to him. Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done.

Colossians 2:6–7 (NLT)

In the classic movie White Christmas, a rather cynical Bob Wallace (played by Bing Crosby) tells Betty Haynes (played by Rosemary Clooney), “Everybody’s got an angle.” Everybody, he thinks, is looking out for himself first, making sure his own needs are met, regardless of anyone else’s.

That movie was made back in 1954, but some things never change, do they? We live in a selfish society, one in which each person keeps his eyes on his individual prize. And that’s exactly why an excited, motivated, God-led, selfless Christian can have such a significant impact.

This week, Treasures of the Transformed Life addresses the topic of service, and it’s so much more than just making sure that all of the items on the church’s to-do list are marked off through volunteer activities. Serving others actually gives us an opportunity to be more like Jesus, the most selfless servant of all. Here’s a reminder through this week’s Scripture verse, introduced in this week’s Sunday school/small group meeting: “I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28 NLT).

When we truly understand the depths of what God has done for us, our natural response is to do something in return. The beautiful thing, though, is that he has uniquely gifted us with different passions and interests, so we can bless him—and bless others—through things we can enjoy. Service doesn’t have to be drudgery.

Someone who likes to sing, for example, might find a place of service in the church choir. Someone who enjoys kids could plug into the children’s ministry. And someone who likes to organize could find a place in the food pantry or church office.

The difference between serving in the church and serving in the world, however, is the expectation of what we’ll get in return. Just as Bing Crosby said, a lot of people really do have an angle, expecting recognition or reward for their time and effort.

So what about you? What are the places you serve, and what are the reasons you do so?