Learn Servant-hood

 

Every week we pray, “Father…grant that every member of the church may truly and humbly serve You.”

Let’s eliminate “Volunteers” in the church.  Let’s do away with volunteerism.  We are more than that secular term.  (The word “volunteer” is in the Bible, but it’s a military term for those who willingly go into battle.)

 

There are many figures which describe our relationship with the Lord Jesus:  e.g., we are members of the body of Christ;  we are the Bride of Christ;  we are His brothers and sisters;  we are servants of the Most High God!  We are God’s workers and as Dan Mohler recently told us, we are the roster of God.

Colossians 3 has a word to say to household servants, but we can apply it to servants in the house of God as well:  Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily, as something done for the Lord and not for men, knowing that it is from the Lord [and not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your real reward.  You are actually serving the Lord Christ.  Colossians 3:23,24

 

Anything we do in the church is ministry and service to Him and to each other.  Those who work the soundboard enhance our worship.  Those who usher make possible orderly worship.  Those who serve in the nursery or Sunday School are “training up a child in the way he should go”.  Those who offer hospitality enable “the fellowship of believers”.  Name any task in the church and it will be an expression of the heart of the Lord for the people of God, as you use your gifts and faculties in service to Him.

All of these things, done for love of God and for each other, bless Him and witness to the watching world, “See how the Christians love one another.”

 

So let’s replace “Volunteers” with “Servants” or “Workers”.

On the roster,

Roberta

The Rev. Roberta Schneider, DCN