Everyone has a part to play

what is your role?

'And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. ' Philemon 1:6

'The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. ' 1 Corinthians 3:8

everyone can do something to serve God, serve others, and for Kingdom purposes. we may not even know exactly what we should be doing and where we are to go. it might be scary, seem foolish, you/i feel unprepared or unworthy; and it may out of our comfort zone, we just have to be willing to give it a try.

not sure if i am alone in this when i say i felt all the above when first stepping out to commit to a ministry and serving people. how is it that the God of all Heaven and earth could use someone like me, a sinner, to help others?

which ministry should i try; what skills do i have that can be utilized; where is the need greatest; would i fit in with everyone else; what if i fail; what if i make a mistake - there are so many emotions that one goes through until you feel comfortable and confident that you are doing things right.

others sit on the sidelines because they may feel they don’t have anything to offer, don’t feel called to do this or that, afraid because of past failures, or simply don’t feel the need. this is not to condemn them that they aren’t helping because i was once in their shoes. it is only to let others know how wonderful it feels to be used by God in service to Him and others, the joy from being a part of the body of Christ, simply doing what i can for His Kingdom. if it allows others to draw closer to Our Lord Jesus, it is worth the time and effort - it is a privilege and not a price to pay.

making that decision of which ministry or what role can i play starts with prayer - asking God what area of the church can my S.H.A.P.E. (skills, heart, attributes, personality, & experience) be used best to help others, to bring glory, honor, and praise to Him. sometimes it may not necessarily be clear because we are not listening or understanding what He is trying to tell or prompt us. other times it is just going out and giving something a try.

perhaps starting with children’s ministry if you like kids; greeting people if you are social; tech team if you are into media; worship if you can sing/dance, etc. from there you can figure out if that is something you really like to do and if it is having an impact on your life as much as the team you support and the people you touch are.

this equally applies to me in that i went from childrens/kids, to levites, to lead, and tech. discussion on recovery and potentially marketplace ministries have been there too. it was simply taking the first step and trying, sometimes failing in the beginning, that has helped me understand where i fit in best with the SHAPE i have to offer. will continue to serve in whatever capacity that God has me to be a part of His Church.

dear Heavenly Father, so grateful that you would still find me worthy enough to serve you, the body of Christ, and our community. wherever you need me, whatever you need me to do, i know you will provide whatever resources and to utilize the skills you have given me to be successful. teach me to not be afraid of what you have in store for me, to have the courage to take that step, to have unshakeable faith to push through the challenges and difficulties that may arise. may you receive all the glory and praise for the work to be performed. in Jesus’ name i pray, amen!