They’re called deacons and, just like our shepherds, they have a special role in the Lord’s church.
“Deacons likewise must be men of dignity…holding to the mystery of faith with a clear conscience…let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach” (1 Tim. 3:8-10).
I’ve always thought that the men who assume this role are remarkable because they are willing to be servants. I realize that all Christians are to serve (1 Pet. 4:10), but deacons are probably the first to be called on to work in various situations. They’re also usually put in charge of a particular area of service (like fellowship, education, building maintenance, youth, transportation, evangelism, etc.). This requires long-term commitment, patience, humility, and a good attitude about helping others. Deacons give up their own time for all of us!
In addition, their families are often serving right along with them! Their wives and kids help them set up for events, host people in their homes, help plan activities, clean up, make copies, cook food, deliver items, or any number of other things.
Your church bulletin probably includes a list of those who serve as deacons. It could have 8 names or 20. Let’s encourage them this week by thanking them for the essential tasks they carry out in the Lord’s church!
For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.
Life isn’t meant to be lived in isolation. As I shared in an earlier post, we need each other. We need the comfort, encouragement, and strength we offer one another through the challenges that come. But oh how the church provides even more than that! Our church family sweetens our lives through fellowship. What makes this fellowship so special?
We’re like-minded. We’re united by our desire to follow Christ. We certainly don’t expect perfection from each other, but we can relax in each other’s presence, knowing that we will enjoy a spirit of harmony. “How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” (Psalm 133:1)
Age doesn’t matter. Of course we might find that people in the same phase of life have more comfortable similarities, but the beauty of the church is that we’re FAMILY. And as it is with our physical families, age doesn’t matter. We love each other, learn from each other, and want to be with each other (Ac. 2:44-46).
The fun feels good. Whether we’re playing games together, preparing a meal, enjoying a night out, doing a project together, or throwing a party, it’s going to be good, clean fun. We don’t have to worry about how we’ll feel later because we won’t be making regrettable choices. We know how to have a good time in ways that still honor Christ (Rom. 12:2)!
I think the world should see Christians having fun together, enjoying each other’s company, acting like we WANT to be together. Jesus said that our love for one another is how others will know that we’re His disciples (Jn. 13:34-35). Sweet fellowship. Let’s talk it up and invite others to be a part of it. And let’s create more opportunities to enjoy it.
“…that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith“
(Romans 1:12)
Learning “The Chameleon” game at the Adkins’ house (photo credit: Cassie Adkins)
The greeters are the friendly faces who welcome visitors and members as they show up for worship. Some people are greeters because they signed up to serve in that role for a certain amount of time. What a wonderful thing to do! Others are greeters because that’s just who they are. Wherever folks enter the building, they are typically nearby with a warm smile and a “good to see you!”
I can easily think of several people I know who will brighten my day when I see them. They’re reliably friendly and fill my heart with their sweet attention. I believe our congregation is welcoming, and they are the reason why.
If you feel like your church family is less than warm or welcoming, the good news is you can change that. All you have to do is be a greeter yourself! If you are consistently warm and friendly, then you are making your church family that way because you ARE the church.
I hope all church greeters know how dear and valuable they are. They help everyone feel seen. They make sure no one leaves without being spoken to. They are helping the Lord’s church make a great first impression on those who are visiting for the first time.
We should all be greeters, shouldn’t we?
“By this all people will know that you are My disciples,
My sister-in-law, Mendy, recently shared a sermon by Jason Chesser. In that message, Jason was talking about the fact that Christians need each other because we’re weaker without each other. He mentioned the parable of the lost sheep (Matt. 18:10-14) and said, “No wonder the shepherd was willing to go off and leave the 99 sheep in search of the one. The 99 sheep had each other. The one who wandered off alone was vulnerable.” Amen to that.
There’s a statement I’ve heard a lot through the years, usually in a hospital room, at a graveside, or on the front pew after someone has come forward requesting prayers:
“I don’t know how anyone could go through life without a church family.”
Perhaps it is in those more difficult moments that we realize just how much we rely on each other. You can see the gratitude or relief in someone’s eyes who has been brought a meal or prayed with through loss or hardship. You can watch someone stand up straighter who was surrounded by loving fellow Christians after confessing sin. You can certainly see a sweet smile on the face of a lonely widow who has been invited to lunch or dinner with your family.
I’ve seen church families rally around those who were wrongfully accused, financially struggling, spiritually weak, or physically depleted. I’ve seen Christians help shoulder the marital and parental burdens of others. I’ve seen church leaders courageously and lovingly lead their flocks through natural disasters, economic crises, and even a pandemic.
And personally, my family has experienced the love, support, and help from fellow Christians more times than I can say.
God knew we would need each other. I hope we all make the most of that! But if your heart is going through a struggle and you feel lonely, please don’t try to soldier on alone. Reach out to your brothers and sisters in Christ and let them have the opportunity to be by your side.
We’re to “encourage one another and build one another up” (1 Thess. 5:11). We’re to “stir up one another to love and good works” (Heb. 10:24). We’re to “bear one another’s burdens” (Gal. 6:2). And we are to “abound in love for one another” (1 Thess. 3:12). Sometimes it’s in our giving to others in these ways that we end up receiving exactly what we need ourselves.
Did you ever have that one friend back in junior high that acted like your best friend at church but then when you saw her at school, she acted like she didn’t know you? Perhaps she was ashamed of you when she was with her other friends because you weren’t cool enough for the school crowd. Do you remember how that made you feel?
That kind of juvenile behavior is unfortunate but not surprising. Young people can struggle with insecurities. They want to be seen in a certain light to be accepted by certain groups. And that objective becomes a stronger motivation than caring about how their actions might hurt or affect others.
Unfortunately, for most of us, that desire to be accepted doesn’t dissipate when we grow up. By the time we’re adults, we’ve honed our skill of reading the crowd and learning how to blend in to become part of it.
Some of that is natural and good. When we move to a new state or start a new job, we observe our new environment and learn how to find our place and fit in. We make friends by learning what others like and are interested in and then try to emphasize areas of common ground. A sense of community is important and we want to feel that our part in it is valued. Paul even said, “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some” (1 Cor. 9:22). He observed people and found ways to connect with them.
The problem comes when our desire for acceptance becomes a stronger motivation than our determination to be Christlike. It’s a fleshly thing and I imagine that, even as Christians, we all struggle with it at some point or in certain situations. For example:
When our conversations around the water cooler at work are different than our conversations in the fellowship hall at church.
When we put all kinds of effort into befriending, helping, and hanging out with the “cool kids” at church but barely offer a nod to those who are on the fringe or those who were converted through benevolent outreach.
When we use edgy or worldly humor around some to get a laugh but present a more spiritual tone around an elder’s wife.
What’s the difference between these scenarios and Paul’s declaration? Paul had one clear goal and that was saving souls. He never compromised his faith or integrity. He wasn’t trying to be liked or fit in or gain a following (1 Cor. 1:10-15). In all of his efforts to reach others, He first determined to look like the Christ he was representing.
So how does one “become all things to all people” without becoming a chameleon (presenting a different face in different situations)?
Pray for pure motives. While being accepted is nice, our objective in all of our interactions should be, “What can I do to point the way to Heaven?” If we take the focus off of self, it will help remove the temptation to compromise in order to be liked (Gal. 2:20).
See people as Jesus did. Think about everyone He interacted with. The Samaritan woman at the well (John 4). Zacchaeus (Luke 19). The woman who was a sinner (Luke 7). Jesus wasn’t worried about what other people thought about Him, even when His own disciples questioned His actions. Jesus could have blended in, like a chameleon, for self-preservation. But He was more worried about what others needed. Who’s sitting alone in the pew where you worship? Who goes to an empty table at the fellowship meals? Who can you invite to lunch that probably isn’t being invited? Who is being ignored where you work because their life got messy and it made them mean? Jesus SAW people and went out of His way to get to them.
Be genuine. Paul was the same with everyone but Peter stumbled in this area. He was nice enough to the Gentiles until certain Jews came around. Then he snubbed them. He would “draw back and separate himself from them.” Paul rightly accused Peter of playing the hypocrite (Gal. 2:11-14). When others see us, it should be a given that we will be warm and friendly to them, every time, as often as we can, no matter who’s around. If we’re only thoughtful toward certain people, we’re not really thoughtful, are we?
Protect souls. Peter’s actions lead others to ignore the Gentiles, too. Even friendly Barnabas followed Peter’s example. I imagine this had to leave a bad taste of Christianity in the mouths of those Gentiles. If we’re interested in getting others to Heaven, we will be very careful of our own influence when it comes to how we treat everyone around us. We will be protective of others. This means we will protect the souls of the worldly by trying to influence them with Christlike behavior. We will protect the souls of the less fortunate by doing our best to make them feel wanted and worthwhile. We will protect the souls of those who are on the social fringe by widening our circle to include them. We must lead the way in this!
Jesus had an inner circle but He often left them to make His way to the those who were shunned. Jesus had a comfort zone but He left it to come to earth to reach us. As much as He loved others, He didn’t always feel like being the one to make the sacrifice (remember His prayer in the garden?) but He did it anyway. And the result? Saved souls, genuine relationships, eternal acceptance.
When I was a kid, there were a few words that I’d always believed were correct until I was a little older and found out they were, in fact, not actual words. A couple examples:
– “Wallago” — “a while ago” – Example of this word used in a sentence: “My brother went to his friend’s house wallago so he will probably be home soon.”
– “Human beans” — “human beings” – Example of this used in a sentence: “Aliens live in outer space, but human beans live on earth.”
When I found out, at the age of about 6 (or maybe 16, but who’s counting?), what the words truly were, my mind was blown. How could I have been wrong for so many years on something I absolutely knew to be true? Well, as I have learned many times over, it is very possible to be wrong on something you believed wholeheartedly to be correct. This is just a fact of life. This fact matters most when it comes to our faith.
Have you ever believed something for as long as you can remember only to find out later you were wrong? I have. It can be a humbling realization and a hard pill to swallow. What we choose to do with that realization is what really matters. If this drives us to seek answers and find the truth, we will grow in more ways than we probably could have ever imagined. We will learn more about God, and in turn, ourselves. Our knowledge, faith, and assurance will increase.
I will admit that sometimes I read my Bible with a checklist type of mentality. While there is, of course, never any harm in reading the Bible, it won’t do near as much good to help my faith and knowledge grow as it would if I carve out time in my day for an intentional Bible study. (Side note: I have found that it’s easier to put consistent Bible study on the backburner if I see this as a task I must do rather than seeing it as a means of finding out more about who God is. Changing your mindset on why you are studying God’s Word can make all the difference if you are having trouble making this a priority in your life!)
In Acts 17:11, the author writes about a group of Jews known as the Bereans. We don’t hear a lot about the Bereans, but they set a great example for us in one single vese. “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” A few things I noticed about this verse:
1. The Bereans were noble.
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “noble” is defined as “having or showing very fine or admirable qualities.” These people were special.
2. They received the word “with all eagerness.”
If you are eager about something, you are excited! The Bereans were enthusiastic and ready to dig for a deeper understanding of God’s Word.
3. They examined the Scriptures.
They were not checking off a to-do list in order to get to their next duty. They were actively investigating.
4. They did this daily.
This is what I like to call a good ol priority. If something is not a priority, we may or may not get to it. But if it is, it is part of your day and is something that will occur without question. This text is not a command, but gives us an example that we would be wise to emulate.
5. They wanted to make sure what they were reading was true.
Sometimes as human beans, we can be lazy. As I have been guilty of, we can take a belief of someone we trust and accept it as accurate and true. But when we don’t examine these beliefs for ourselves to make sure they are correct, our very souls could be at risk.
We should try to be more like the Bereans every day because one day, we will be judged by what is in the Bible, according to John 12:48, which says, “The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.” If we know that the Bible is the book by which our souls will be judged one day, maybe we should ask ourselves if we really know what it says. The only way to find out is by opening it and like the Bereans, “examining the Scriptures daily.” “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)
If, for whatever reason, your life is difficult and you have to gear up just to face each new day, remember the tremendous amount of hope you might be giving others. Those who know you well, and even those who barely know you, can be encouraged by your example.
If you lack general comfort but you are relying on the Comforter (Romans 8:26,27).
If you lost someone dear but you are leaning on the Giver of Life (John 5:24).
If your tasks are overwhelming but you trust in the promise of rest (Matt. 11:28-30).
If your struggles keep multiplying but your faith is unwavering (1 Peter 1:7).
If your body is weak but you know a better one awaits (Phil. 3:20,21).
If your nights are long but you go on because it is only temporary (Rev. 21:22-25).
Then even though you might feel like you can barely tackle one day at a time, rejoice in the fact that you are strengthening others. A conversation with you fills others with courage for whatever they might face and lets them see that all things are indeed possible with God (Matt. 19:26). What good you are doing in the kingdom! Thank you for your invaluable commitment and faithfulness. May God uphold you as you continue to encourage others.
As long as I can remember, I have wanted to learn to play the piano. I began lessons when I was 8 or 9 years old, but my piano teacher was very stern and my desire to learn piano was trumped by my desire to avoid my teacher. For my birthday this year, my husband, Dale, got me a new keyboard. I couldn’t have been more excited, as my dreams to play the piano were finally within reach! However, I was sorely disappointed when I realized mastering this new instrument wouldn’t be as easy as it looked on YouTube. I’ve watched and listened to many people play piano over the years with wonder. They make it look so easy and sound so beautiful. So of course, when I sat down for the very first time and couldn’t play Mozart within a few hours, I was disappointed, to say the least.
In reality, I knew that it would be hard. It would take a lot of patience, determination, and consistency. I had to decide, and still do, that it would be worth the effort. I have gotten frustrated when my hands won’t follow what my brain tells them to. I have wanted to give up. But I have decided to keep trying (partly because I want to be good at piano one day and partly because I want Dale to know how thankful I am for this gift). Some days when I practice, it seems that at the current rate, it will take approximately three hundred years until I will be successful at this new hobby. But some days, I learn something new and can see that the time I have put in is paying off. It’s such a rewarding feeling and keeps me excited to continue on. My goal is to learn and be good at playing the piano. The only way to get to this goal is to never give up.
In many ways, this is similar to our walk as Christians. We all have the goal of spending eternity in heaven with our Creator & taking as many people with us as we can. Some days, we may feel like we’ll never get it right. But if we keep putting one foot in front of the other in the direction of heaven, we will find that no matter how hard some days may seem, we will be rewarded greatly and every hard day will be more than worth it. The only way to reach our goals, whether earthly, or more importantly, eternally, is to NEVER give up!
At the end of our days on this earth, may these verses be able to define our own lives:
Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
As a nurse, time management is very important. There are often more tasks to do than it seems I have time for. Generally, what I do in the first 2 hours determines how the next 10 will go. Some mornings, I get right to work, doing full assessments on my patients, filling out their whiteboards, and bringing their early medications with a fresh cup of ice water. Now, I’m ready to take on my next task of charting all that I just did. Because as we nurses know, “if it isn’t charted, it didn’t happen!” If every shift started out this seamlessly, I would never need to stay a single minute late. However, it’s rare that something doesn’t pop up unexpectedly to throw me off my game. A patient rings the call button, “I need my nurse in here right now!” I drop what I’m doing and run to their room, expecting an emergency, only to hear, “I need you to scratch my foot.” Or maybe, upon assessing a patient, I notice her breathing is very labored. She’s more lethargic than an hour ago and her oxygen level has dropped. I stop everything else and this patient becomes my top priority. When all is settled down and she is better, all of my other patients’ medications are going to be late. Now, I’m behind on charting and still need to give insulin before lunch arrives. But what about my lunch? Because now I’m starving and can I even be a good nurse if all I can think about is my growling stomach? Well, it’ll have to wait because my goal has now become to everything without having to stay late.
This is a real world example of what happens in life. If everything could just go according to plan, we would have all the time in the world to prepare for the life after this. But does it ever? That’s a big NOPE. Life gets busy. Each day brings a new challenge or change to our schedule and we constantly have to alter our plans. Priorities shift and sometimes things that are the most important get put on the back-burner because we “just don’t have time today.” But after days and weeks of being on the back-burner, these “priorities” become no more than a small check at the very bottom of a seemingly endless to-do list. This is precisely how the devil wants it to be. A slow fade. If for months or years, we were in the habit of daily Bible study, constantly in prayer throughout our day, and then all of sudden that all changed from one day to the next, it would be very noticeable and we would work hard to get back to our happy and healthy state of equilibrium. But when this occurs over time, it’s less noticeable and sadly, bothers us less.
In healthcare, we talk to patients a lot about preventative measures. We give prophylactic treatments. Keeping you healthy by staying ahead of the problem is almost always better than treating one after it’s already become one. The same goes for us spiritually. How can we prevent this from happening to us? How can we manage our time and our lives so that our top priorities stay at the very top?
Pray about it. Ask God to keep you diligent in your prayer and study. Ask Him to make you more aware of how you are spending your time.
Plan your time. If you don’t already have a planner or some kind of daily agenda, consider it. Write out at the beginning of the week, how you will spend your time and include time each day for Bible study.
Find an accountability partner. If you know someone who is grounded in daily Bible study, consider asking them to be an accountability partner with you. Ask each other each day or each week how their doing in their studies and pray for each other.
Do a Bible study on time management. The Bible has plenty to say on how we spend our time and reading about it will be a great reminder for us! Ecclesiastes and James are a couple that come to mind.
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
We’ve experienced some interesting things in the past few years, don’t you think? Some of it has been unpleasant, but I have seen so many good things come out of it. We’ve grown closer to our friends and family. In general, being kind to the strangers all around us! In times of struggle and disaster, helping the community in a very hands on way. Maybe we got caught up in some of the negativity in the beginning, but more and more I’m seeing positivity and the spread of it! At the start of a new year, I like to read over some of my favorite verses. These verses help me in a lot of different ways, and I’d like to share them with you.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Father who is full of mercy, the God of all comfort. He comforts us every time we have trouble so that when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
“Don’t worry—I am with you. Don’t be afraid—I am your God. I will make you strong and help you. I will support you with my right hand that brings victory.” Isaiah 41:10
“You comfort me in my suffering, because your promise gives me new life.” Psalms 119:50
“My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give my sheep eternal life. They will never die, and no one can take them out of my hand. My Father is the one who gave them to me, and he is greater than all. No one can steal my sheep out of his hand. The Father and I are one.” John 10:27-30
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, God has given us every spiritual blessing in heaven. In Christ, he chose us before the world was made. He chose us in love to be his holy people—people who could stand before him without any fault. And before the world was made, God decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. This was what God wanted, and it pleased him to do it. And this brings praise to God because of his wonderful grace. God gave that grace to us freely. He gave us that grace in Christ, the one he loves.” Ephesians 1:3-6
“The Lord is my shepherd. I will always have everything I need. He gives me green pastures to lie in. He leads me by calm pools of water. He restores my strength. He leads me on right paths to show that he is good. Even if I walk through a valley as dark as the grave, I will not be afraid of any danger, because you are with me. Your rod and staff comfort me. You prepared a meal for me in front of my enemies. You welcomed me as an honored guest. My cup is full and spilling over. Your goodness and mercy will be with me all my life, and I will live in the Lord’s house a long, long time.” Psalm 23
I want to start out the new year remembering what’s important. Rather, who is important. God’s love for us is so much more than our human brains can imagine.
Life and Favor (Job 10:12) 