One of the many benefits of retirement is sharing breakfast with my wife, followed by reading a few Prayer Guides and daily Bible reading and notes. One of the former was a Prayer Card with the same request for each day of the week, and was used in a previous TFTD.
Sunday’s prayer included “Thank God for the lives that have been transformed through the work of our partners”. This was followed recently with our Bible reading from a few verses from 1 Corinthians 3. In verse 5, Paul asks, What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe – as the Lord has assigned to each his task.
Many years ago, I heard a talk by an actor who had become a Christian. He stood at the front of the church, held his closed Bible and quoted about 20 verses of John chapter 1. During his talk, he said, “There is no need to be jealous of anyone’s gift”, and I thought, “It’s all right for you to say that!”
Of course, we need different gifts within the church, as Paul says later in chapter 12, “The Spirit distributes them (spiritual gifts) to each one, just as He determines”. Depending on the version of the Bible used, one of the gifts that I appreciate is “helps”. Of course, we should support and be grateful for pastors, teachers, evangelists, elders and deacons, etc. It was said of one Christian, “He seems to see things that need doing, that no one else notices.”
In our church, I am grateful for those who undertake tasks that would probably be noticed only if they hadn’t been done. And maybe we can all use the gift of encouragement should we notice what the “helpers” have done.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you that we are not called to undertake every responsibility in the local church, but are grateful for those who help and serve you in various ways. AMEN.