Today is Labor Day. It’s a day where we honor those who are in the workforce. Many people celebrate the day by gathering together for picnics, barbecues, good food… and homemade ice cream! When I first came to GA, over 20 years ago, I remember getting together with my family and experiencing the best peach ice cream that I had ever tasted!
It was made in an ice cream bucket using cream, sugar, fresh peaches, and rock salt! I don’t know how to make ice cream this way, but I remember there was a lot involved with making it that day. There was in inner container for the edible ingredients, the paddle attachment, the outer bucket, the motor that turned the paddle, and the rock salt. I remember we needed each piece of this machine to be properly attached because if even one little piece was missing, the ice cream was not going to turn out the way we all were hoping it would. Once the ingredients had been put into the inner container, the machine began to do its job. It seemed like it took a long time, but with everything working together, we soon had the most delicious peach ice cream ever!
Like each piece of the ice-cream maker, each one of us is important to the work of God’s church. You may not feel like your part matters because you’re not a preacher or a missionary or a Sunday school teacher, but you are so valuable to God in doing His work for the cause of Christ. The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 12:12, “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.”
For me, I sometimes feel I don’t offer anything very impressive for God to use, but He showed me that there are more members of Christ’s body or church that are not in the spotlight of ministry. Some need to order materials so that Sunday school classes have the supplies and lessons they need; some need to clean the church every week; some need to visit those who are sick and can’t come to church. Some need to cut the grass around the church. Some need to print the materials we use. There is a plethora of ways that God uses His children to advance the cause of Christ.
Additionally, you are able to reach people for Jesus that others cannot do! For example, I do not know those with whom you socialize, those with whom you work, or even those you randomly meet in a day. Therefore, in order to reach the world for Christ, we much each do the task that God has called us to do. Every single person in God’s family is important to Him and needed to do His work in order to reach the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
How can we help? We can teach the children at church and help start their growth in the Lord. We can help support missionaries through financial giving at church. We can write cards or make phone calls to homebound Christians. We can prepare meals for those who need them. There are so many things we can do and need to do as part of the body of Christ! The Bible tells us:
“If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” – 1 Corinthians 12:15-18
God has a specific purpose for me, just like He has a purpose for you! Still wondering what you can do for Jesus? Here are a few other ways:
1) You can pray for others.
2) You can share what Jesus has done for you to someone who doesn’t know Christ as Saviour and don’t have an opportunity to go to church.
3) You can encourage others when they are struggling.
4) You can invite others to join us here for our meetings.
5) You can reach out to visitors at church with a smile, making them feel welcome and wanted.
You are still a valuable member of the body of Christ, and this Labor Day, remember all the ways you can “labor for the Master” and rejoice, for your labor is not in vain!
There is joy in serving Jesus, as I journey on my way,
Joy that fills the heart with praises, every hour and every day.
There is joy, joy, joy in serving Jesus,
Joy that throbs within my heart;
Every moment, every hour, as I draw upon His power,
There is joy, joy, joy that never shall depart.
(from “Joy in Serving Jesus” by Oswald J. Smith)
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” – Colossians 3:23
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What can you do to labor for the Lord today?
Appreciate the devotion and encouragement, be strong and faithful, YOU are needed.
As are you, my dear sweet sister! Our God is so amazingly good to us!!