Focus

Take time to rest in the comfort of the Lord today.

Read

Romans 12:1-8 (NRSV)

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

Reflect

Aren’t churches great? I have only been a member of three churches in my life, but I know God brought me to each church for a purpose. The congregation where I grew up was my first church. It was the church where my father had also been raised. I knew who to approach if I needed a hug and I knew who would give me candy.

As a young adult, I joined a church that had a huge singles group. It was in a college town and many of the people in the church did not have families who lived nearby. We immediately became one another’s family. I knew who to call if my car broke down and who to call if I needed advice.

The third church I joined while my minister husband and I were dating, which was when I became a Cumberland Presbyterian. At this church I didn’t know who to ask for advice, or to get a hug, but people started coming to me for some of those things.

When my husband was in seminary, he served as a pulpit supply at many churches. There was never church that didn’t have someone who greeted us, offer a hug or handshake, or provide comfort. It’s amazing how God can bring together what looks like randomness and make extraordinary churches. What gift can you offer to your church family?

Pray

Thank you, Lord, for blessing our churches. Thank you for placing persons where you need for them to be. Thank you for granting us gifts to further your kingdom. Help us to continue to be serve you wherever we are. Amen

Go with God.