Resolved_To_Serve_One_Another.pdf

Who wouldn’t want to love and serve the body of Christ? Me. Don’t get me wrong, give me an event, an emergency, a class, or a check to write and I’m in. Defined parameters are safe. Open commitments are scary. What if I get bored or something better comes along? And people are messy. I tend to like easy, light conversations, not intentional, soul-searching encounters. In either case, the latter requires something more of me. What about you? The good news is that there’s hope and help for both of us in Christ.

When we heed the gospel in all its fullness, the Spirit makes a good deposit in us (2 Timothy 1:13–14). God intends our faith to become strong and mature just like we expect our financial deposits to grow through compounding interest. One way the Holy Spirit intends to encourage and edify our faith is through every encounter we have with believers.

All our common conversations ought to build up each other’s faith whether we are talking about snow shoveling or 2 Samuel. Why? Because without exception the Apostle Paul calls us to speak in ways that build up and not corrupt that grace may be given (Ephesians 4:29). I don’t want to miss out on any available grace—our faith is at stake.

We need each other’s exhortations so that we will not become hardened by sin’s deceitfulness (Hebrews 3:12–13). As much as I care about this for myself and others, I want to care more. And I want you to care more, too, because what I’m talking about is hard work. We all need each other in Christ.

My desire is to love people personally, not generally. When I run into Tom in the hall, I want to increase the hope in his heart. What about you? If you’re a believer transformed by God’s Spirit, this would be your desire as well. Yet, when Paul tells us to let love be genuine, he follows it up with a list of actions (Romans 12:9ff). So what are we going to do with this?

Let’s make conversations count. Corrupting talk isn’t only that which is obviously evil, but it’s also the hollow content that doesn’t encourage faith. There is a profitable way to talk about your new dress and a worthless way. And some topics are more worthwhile than others.

How to know the difference? Look at God’s word and at your heart. Are we intentionally, genuinely loving in the moment? Or are we just passing time until we get through the line at Chipotle? I’m not dismissing the mundane; rather, I’m saying that whether we are discussing the mundane or last week’s sermon, we should be seeking the benefit of another’s soul.

Let’s not depend on the next seminar to edify our faith. Rather, make it the next time we speak with our friends. Let’s teach and learn God’s truth from our conversational content. Let’s spend more time in profitable fellowship and not hurry home when the service ends. Let’s spend more time with people in coffee shops, living rooms, and hallways.

And what about our time? I’m busy. So are you. Are we so busy that we don’t know what our spiritual gifts are, much less use them to serve and love one another? This is of tantamount importance (1 Peter 4:8–11). What are you and I going to do about it?

Let’s move toward need and away from comfort—don’t avoid people in pain. Take a risk. Make a sacrifice. And guess what, something currently good and enjoyable will have to give way for something better. It might be recreation or even another class. It might mean football (watching or playing) or even some quiet evenings at home.

There are needy people all around and not just out on the streets, but sitting in the next pew. What might serving them look like? Have dinner guests on a regular basis. Don’t just give money, but help people in person. Tune in to the appeals to serve at our church. Pick one based on urgency, not ease. Let your spiritual gifts guide you and not the time it will take or who else will be involved.

Don’t participate in ministry—own one. Get involved for the long haul. Make every personal encounter about giving, not getting. Do the hard work to love and serve one another in the body of Christ and lean on God to look after you. He’s promised to do it (Matthew 6:33). Ask earnestly and repeatedly for the faith and strength. He will be glorified, we will be helped, and joy will abound (Psalm 50:15).

Resolving in the Lord with you,

Kevin Dau
Ministry Assistant for Family Discipleship