“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,
as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
1 Peter 4:10
This past Sunday was a special worship service for our church as we ordained a new deacon and recognized four more previously ordained who are returning to service as deacons. As we ordained Anna Hunt as a new deacon, she offered an incredible response to accepting this ministry role in our church.
She asked the question, “Do you ever struggle with feelings of inadequacy?” I almost raised my hand but of course knew it was a rhetorical question. If we are honest with ourselves, this has probably been a struggle for many of us. Male or female, young or not-so-young…feeling like we are not up to par or not worthy of God’s calling on our lives is most likely a shared feeling.
Anna went on to say that God needs people behind the scenes doing the work that no one sees. She said, “While I used to see this as an inadequacy, God has shown me that it is his gift to me.” Through Anna’s vulnerability, we can learn much from that testimony. We can’t do everything. Not everyone is gifted in the same way. But make no mistake, God don’t make no junk.
We are all gifted in our own unique ways. American tennis player Arthur Ashe is quoted as saying, “Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.” Similarly, President Theodore Roosevelt is attributed to the quote, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
Maybe you are like Anna and God has gifted you to work diligently in the background. Maybe you are more comfortable out in front. No matter how you serve our church and the Kingdom of God, we all must remember that service is worship. Every time you serve—visiting the sick, welcoming a guest, comforting a family, teaching a child, cleaning a room, or giving your time—you are worshiping God.
Service is not small. It’s sacred. It’s what Jesus did when He washed feet. It’s also what He did when He hung on the cross. It’s what He calls us, His church, to do every day.
No matter your gift, no matter how you serve, we should all thank God for the ways we as a church have been gifted and seek out opportunities to serve.
Prayer: God, thank you for how you have gifted us. Help us to be good stewards of the gifts of grace we have received. In Jesus’ holy name we pray, Amen