The church is not a building we meet in. It is not the land where the building sits. The church is the body of believers who meet to worship and learn more about our risen Savior. We are in the building for a little while, but the church leaves the building and goes back out into the world soon after meeting. We go our separate ways and represent Christ throughout the week. It is our responsibility to be an example to others in our daily interactions with them. We need to live a life that represents what Jesus would have done. In our words and our actions others should see a person who is living the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” In other words, we need to be Jesus to everyone we encounter in life. They need to see Him in us.
One day, I was listening to a pastor of a mega church in Georgia and in his Sunday morning sermon he was addressing his congregation about serving God. The church had about 10,000 members and three services on Sunday mornings. It was packed. Sadly, only about 20% of the membership were actively serving Christ. The other 80% came on Sunday, went home, and did not do much service for the Lord at all until they came back to the building again to sit down and hear another sermon. They did not volunteer to help on Sunday mornings with children or adults. They did not show up to help at weeknight classes or events. To him they were just pew warmers on a Sunday morning.
So, the pastor made a statement that shocked me. He said, “If you come each week to church, park in a parking place, come inside and sit down, listen to my sermon from God, then get up and leave to repeat that same scenario each week without any kind of service to God in any way on Sunday morning or during the week, I need your seat and your parking space.”
You see, the building was at capacity. He was looking for genuine Christians that were willing to serve Jesus. Jesus came to serve, not to be served. He was stirring their hearts to be active Christians and do something for Jesus. Be involved during the week. Be a part of a Life Group in someone’s home. Volunteer during Vacation Bible School. Help clean up around the church building. Lead a men’s or women’s bible study. Do something!
Doing things for Jesus, acts of service, have nothing to do with His free gift of salvation. These acts of service are done out of our love and appreciation for what He did for us on the cross at Calvary. We cannot pay for what Jesus did nor does He ask us to. He gave His life for our sins and loved us enough that even while we were still sinners, He sacrificed His life for us.
In closing, I want to encourage you to find something that interests you and start serving God in some way. If you already are, then thank you. Start small if you need to but grow to be more like Christ in service to others. When you begin to serve others, thinking of others before yourself, you will be amazed at the warm feeling that the Holy Spirit places in your heart. It makes Him happy. It is His smile that warms your heart.
Have an awesome week with the Lord.
Jim Everett
