“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” – Colossians 3:23 (NLT)
Welcome to the 31st weekly devotional recap of the year. This week, we rounded up our series on service in God’s kingdom by learning how to handle church hurt, and we began a discussion on developing a mindset of influence for the sake of the gospel.
We started on Monday by learning about navigating offenses within the church. Because the church is made up of human beings, hurt is almost inevitable, so we should anticipate and make allowances for them (Matthew 18:15). Even Jesus experienced hurt and betrayal from the people He loved during His time on earth (John 7:3-5; 12:6; 13:37-38). Church hurt can be overwhelming, but God does not want you to isolate yourself. Process your pain with Him and don’t give the devil an inroad by being unforgiving (2 Corinthians 2:11).
Tuesday’s article encouraged us to remember that our service in the church is ultimately unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23), especially in the face of offence. Even when people hurt you, don’t let it cause you to withdraw from contributing to the fulfilment of the Great Commission. The church is God’s idea, so don’t let any pain lead you to isolation from the gathering of believers (Hebrews 10:25). If necessary, you can change your local church, but don’t abandon the institution of the church, and be sure to keep serving as unto the Lord.
On Wednesday, we learnt how to handle matters of misbehaviour among church members with grace and integrity. From Paul’s example when dealing with sin in the Corinthian church (2 Corinthians 2:5-11), it is clear that as a body, we should look out for and restore our siblings when they fall (Galatians 6:1-2). Pray for them, approach them with love, and involve church leadership if necessary (Matthew 18:16-17). In all of this, remember that every soul is precious to God and that His priority is that no one should go astray.
Thursday’s devotional showed us the importance of using the resources and opportunities God has given us to further His kingdom (Luke 19:12-13). As believers, we have been commissioned to preach the gospel and reconcile people to God (2 Corinthians 5:18; Matthew 28:19). To do this effectively, we must adopt a mindset of influence, dream big for God’s kingdom, and leverage every possible means to spread the gospel. God is counting on you to reach the whole world with His message (John 12:24; Romans 10:15).
We rounded up the week on Friday with a lesson on the importance of seeing and believing in God’s vision for the earth (Habakkuk 2:14). If you truly believe that God’s plan to reconcile all men to Himself is achievable, it will shape your dedication and efforts. From the stories of faith in Hebrews 11 to our own lives today, we see that God can jealously guard every prophecy to execution (Isaiah 9:6-7). Remember, if God says it can be done, it can be done! If He sends you on an assignment, He will see it through.
Dear believer, from today, be conscious that every act of service is unto God and that the One who sent you is with you every step of the way.
Bible Reading Catchup