As we talked about yesterday, during my teaching at Camp Wesley Pines this week I am drawing comparisons between characters in Star Wars and different Biblical characters. Last night we looked at Moses and Aaron and who they can relate to. … Continue reading
To me, one of the coolest parts about faith is this – God wants us to do our part.
Think about it. God is the maker of all that is – both seen and unseen. There is nothing that has ever been created that God hasn’t made. God has all power in the universe. God is the ultimate authority in all of life. God is all in all. He is it.
So, what does He need from us? Nothing. And so, with the life of faith, you might thing that there’s not much we can do. There’s not much we have to do.
And yet, listen to what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1 this morning:
God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
God doesn’t need us for any thing in life. He’s God. We are not. But God wants us to be part. God wants us to be faithful. God wants us to be part of His team, to be part of His body. To be part of what He’s doing.
He invites us into partnership with Him. He doesn’t “need” it. Just wants it.
Wow. The God of the universe wants to work with us and use us. God wants us to be part of what He’s doing. He wants us to do our part for His kingdom.
Today, God wants you to join in. Yes, you. No matter what you may think of your own gifts or abilities, God thinks you are worthy to be part of what He’s doing.
No matter what you may have done wrong in the past, God thinks you are worthy to be part of what He’s doing.
Today, you are invited to be part of an amazing effort and team. You are invited to be part of what God is doing.
He wants you to. Will you join in? Will you be faithful? Will you do your part?
You’ll find the life that you want so badly there.
Today, you are invited to join a partnership with God!
One of the things I really enjoy seeing in the book of Acts is to see all the folks involved in the spreading of the Gospel.
It starts off with the 12 Disciples. Then we see Stephen. Then Paul. But, Paul is not the end.
Barnabas strengthens Paul. Paul goes all over the world preaching. Timothy enters in. Silas. John Mark. So many people.
Priscilla and Aquila, so man others.
The cool thing about this, to me, is that none of the people in Acts that God uses to spread the Gospel could have done it alone. They each needed each other’s help. The each needed the encouragement that they could receive from each other.
And, they each needed to encourage one another. We see this play out today in Acts 18:
26 He (Apollos) began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately.
Apollos was doing some great things. But, it wasn’t until Priscilla and Aquila helped him out a little, that he was able to do greater things for God.
And, Priscilla and Aquila would not have been there if not for Paul. Paul would not have been there if not for Barnabas. Barnabas would not have been there if not for the work of the Disciples.
They needed each other.
So, today, two questions. What are you trying to do today that you simply can’t do by yourself? What are you trying to do that is going to take help? These burdens get heavy if we don’t have help. What do you need help with today?
And second, who do you need to help? Who is carrying a burden that you can help lift? Who is doing something that you know you can help them with?
In Acts, God used the people working together. Today, how does God want us to work together, for His glory?
We are not all the same. Thank goodness. I like the fact that we are each different, that we each have different likes, dislikes, abilities, and gifts. That’s a good thing. None of us are exactly the same.
Today in Acts, we see the Apostles teach the people that each person has a different gift and calling. These gifts aren’t better than each other. They are just different. All gifts are needed. We each have a part to play in the body. We see in Acts 6:
2 And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, 4 while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.” 5 What they said pleased the whole community,
And God needs all of us to do our thing. God needs each of us to do what He has called us to do and be who He has called us to be.
Not everyone is supposed to be me. Not everyone is supposed to be you.
We are each supposed to be who God has called us to be.
Just because you don’t have the same gift or passion as I do, that doesn’t make you bad. It doesn’t make me bad. It makes us different and it means that God wants to each use each of us for His kingdom.
He needs each of us do what we are called to do, what we are passionate about.
And in doing that, we will build the kingdom of God here among us.
Today, don’t try to me, or your mama, or your preacher, or your teacher, or you neighbor.
Be you. Be the person God has called YOU to be.
He needs you to be that person. Your church needs you to be that person. the kingdom needs you to be that person.
We each have a part to play. Each of us. None of us are unimportant. We are each valuable to God.
Be who you are called this day. And don’t worry about being anybody else.
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