Having just received the Lord Jesus as his Savior from sin, an enthusiastic young boy blurted out, “Now what do I do? What’s next?” He had the right idea! Although nothing further had to be done to receive salvation, there was much more to do to serve God.

The Bible, in Ephesians 2:8-9, makes it crystal-clear that we are saved by grace through faith. We could never do anything to deserve salvation. The best we have to offer is not good enough to meet the Lord’s holy standards. We experience forgiveness of sin, find peace with God, have the promise of heaven, and become possessors of everlasting life by trusting the Lord Jesus and Him alone. It is impossible for anyone to earn these favors!

Following conversion, however, we should respond as that young boy and the apostle Paul did, “Now what do I do? What’s next?” Immediately after stating that we are not saved by works, Ephesians 2 tells us, “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (v.10).

First there’s faith, then comes service. We believe to become Christians. We serve because we have been saved. That’s what’s next!

   — Richard De Haan