On my way to the Sunday services this morning I was reflecting on the Awesomeness of God. I had had very little sleep the night before and was very tired. Driving down the road with my eyes barely open, I thought about whether or not God needs me to serve.
On Sundays my “job” is to manage the production needs of the service. Why do I serve on Sunday? God can work in each of our hearts regardless of what order the announcements are in, how many songs the band plays, or how long the service goes. Only God knows if the service “falling apart” (having the wrong slide displaying, or being in the wrong lighting cue) is actually according to His plan.
The Sunday service is only an outpouring of the worship that I should be living every day. Keeping it in perspective, the tasks I do are important for the service, and important for the service only. The work that God cares about more is deep heart change, humble repentance of sin, and the resulting fruit in our lives that magnifies His glory.
No, God doesn't need us, but he chooses to work through us and what we do. So what’s the point of pulling all the details together so the Sunday service runs smoothly or doing that last minute trouble shooting? Is it so God can say “Well done good and faithful servant. I needed that detail ironed out or things wouldn’t have gone according to my plan?” Is it to justify myself by giving me a sense of “belonging” with a place to serve?
"Church" is the community of all believers; it's not a building or a service.
The Sunday Service is merely a place where we can all gather to celebrate God’s grace in our lives and learn more about Him. My role in that event is to facilitate the time for others and allow them to focus on God and not the details. I do this as a part of my worship of God. He has gifted me with a detail-oriented mind that centers on production technology. It is my place within the body to help facilitate in this way.
God has given each of us gifts.
What are your gifts? Are you using them to glorify God? How are you giving back to God by serving with the gifts He's given you? Are you pouring into the lives of the people around you? Are you asking yourself the tough questions: What is God doing? How is He calling me to be more like Him? What do I need to repent of?
As you ponder these questions, consider also the Grace that God has given you in your life to date. Think and pray each of these through and do what God is telling you to do next.
How are you going to respond?
