Challenge Central: a CBC devotional
By: Shannon Green
As I write this devotional, we are entering August. Although there is still some summer left, the month of August causes me to start planning. September is that time for me in school or our church in ministries where we get things up and running again after a bit of a hiatus. The planning needs to get started for those things to be prepared and ready. 1 Corinthians 12: 5 says, “There are a variety of ministries and the same Lord.” As we hear of ministries beginning or needing workers, we can sometimes think of one of two things. As busy human beings, it is easy to get caught up in our own lives and feel we have no time or energy left to share; or we can sometimes feel we do not have the skills required to contribute to a particular ministry effectively. Our church put out a link last week (https://gifts.churchgrowth.org)
encouraging us to complete the questionnaire as a means of discovering our spiritual gifts. Have you each had a chance to look at that and see what your gifting is? It is a great place to start if you have never done a spiritual gift analysis.
1 Peter 4:10 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in various forms.” God has equipped us with specific gifts and skill sets that we need; no gift is greater than another. 1 Corinthians 12 talks about the church being one body with many parts. God has placed each part in the body just as He wanted it to be. Further, it talks about if all the parts were the same, how could there be a body? We are a team Central, and we need each one of us to serve alongside together to be effective. 1 Corinthians 12: 26 and 27 encourage us, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honoured, every part shares in its joy. You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it.” I challenge you to find your gift and seek a way to use it this fall in ministry. Without you, we will not be as effective!
Serving is not always easy, and often it is a thankless job. Some jobs will not be the ones that are praised or easily recognized. I am sure there have been times that serving alongside others has been a struggle and a challenge. That is why we must keep focused on who we are serving. Colossians 3:23 reminds us, “whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for man.” Working with other frail and imperfect people can cause our hearts to grumble or have our feelings hurt. Keeping our eyes on God and not man is key to serving with a proper focus. 1 Samuel 12:24 says, “Only fear the Lord and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.”
It is a command that we are to be working and serving the Lord while here on earth. John 12:26 says, “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me, and where I am, there my servant will be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honour him.” I have heard it said that 10% of the people do 90% of the work, which worries me. We are blessed with a church family with many different skills and abilities that God can use in endless ways. We do not want to fall into the habit of missing some of the parts (skills and abilities) of our church body. That includes all of us, and we each play a vital role in our Central family and the impact we can have on our community for God’s glory. As I move into the fall season, I am praying and seeking where the Lord would have me serve. I challenge you to do the same. How can you be used and serve God? What role is God asking you to fill this year at Central Baptist Church?
