DEVOTION – DAY 129

Nehemiah 3:29 “Serving In Church”

 

Neh.3:29 “Next to them, Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house. Next to him, Shemaiah son of Shekaniah, the guard at the East Gate, made repairs.

 

Nehemiah obtained permission from King Artaxerxes to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls and gates as they lay in ruins. Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem and he knew he had to rally the city’s occupants to work together quickly to rebuild the city walls and gates. The above verse shows just one small list of people who were involved in the rebuilding of the walls. Some of those involved were named specifically.

The above verse and similar verses like this in Neh.3 teach us that in the conduct of God’s work, God involves ordinary people and they are acknowledged by God. These people did not need special gifting or skills. They just offered what they had and willingly gave their labor to rebuild the city walls and gates. And God remembers them. This encourages all of us to play our part in serving the Lord. The Bible in passages like these, and in passages from 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 and Romans 12:3-8 all teach us that everyone has a part in building up God’s church. It is not only the work of Church staff and pastors who have been called by God to build up the Church. God plans His Church’s work to be carried out by every member. And their services will be remembered by the Lord just as Nehemiah’s wall builders have been remembered by Nehemiah.

I remembered when I was relatively new to our church, I did not know the Bible well. I had only been a Christian for a couple of years and we did not know many people. When I attended church services and the Pastor encouraged us to serve in Church, I felt I had nothing to offer and thought that others with more Bible knowledge than I should answer the call to serve. But one day, I happened to be waiting at the foyer of our church and I was approached by someone in church who was one of the ushers. He asked me if I and my wife would be willing to be ushers. I was hesitant at first but he was encouraging. All we had to do was smile and guide people to empty seats and hand them a printed bulletin. We thought we could do that, and that was our start in beginning to serve in church. We thought we could smile and shake someone’s hand. We thought we could welcome someone to church just as we could welcome someone into our own home. And this simple service is also remembered by the Lord.

Let us pray: Dear Father, it is amazing that you, who does not need anyone to build your church, nevertheless want us all to take part in building your church. You do that so that we can learn the value of service, to think of others over ourselves. Thank you for the privilege of serving you. In the great name of the Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.

 

Questions

  1. What are some reasons why you do not serve more in church and are they valid reasons? Share.
  2. How can you overcome your concerns so that you can start to serve more in church?
  3. List one or two skills you have that can help in an area of ministry in church and offer these skills to your pastor.
  4.