1 Corinthians
12:12,20 NASB
For even as
the body is one and yet has
many members, and all the members of the body, though they are
many, are one body, so also is Christ…But now there are many members, but one body.
I am a
people watcher. One of my favorite
places is the airport especially as I have a layover or arrive early. I’ll usually chose a location where there is
much traffic. People are so
different. God loves variety. Short and tall. Skinny and not so skinny. Young and old. Big families and singles. People with tattoos. People with duffle bags or guitars strapped
to their back. Military heroes. Little old ladies. College students, athletes and so many
others. It is cool to watch people.
This
week has had many points where people watching came in to place. That is not because of an airplane trip or an
extended visit to a mall. It is because
about 60 people from all over Virginia converged on our community for a single
purpose of serving people they don’t know and sharing their faith. They are from every corner of the
Commonwealth and everywhere in between.
They are also from all kinds of churches.
They
came to us with kids in tow. Some are
grandparents with their grandkids.
Others are parents with their kids.
Some where even care givers or brought some friends kids. They are awesome people. They had all kinds of skills. Some of them make friends real easy while
others are very shy. It was so sweet to watch,
listen and learn from these great people.
Each one had something to give, and that is just want they did while
they have been in Martinsville and Henry County.
What a
great reminder of the church God has given us. We don’t have the same skills or the same
personalities. God loves variety, and it
really is sweet variety.
Each
of us has a place in God’s family with gifts, talents and hearts that have been
given to us by God, and God tells us to do what He made us to do. That means don’t keep what you have and who
you are to yourself. You and I were made
to serve, we were made to love people, and we were fashioned by God to be part
His church. All of that variety means
that God gets the glory and the church grows because we are doing what God made
us to do.
Sweet
variety has to be something we embrace and praise God for. You are blessed by God, and you are a gift to
the people God has put you around. You
have skills. Use them to serve. Use them to love. Point people to Jesus and watch what God does
as He uses us together.
1 Peter 4:10 NLT
God has given
each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use
them well to serve one another.
We pleaded
with you, encouraged you, and urged you to
live your lives in a way that God
would consider worthy. For he called you
to share in his Kingdom and glory.
Comments