I will start this Devo by saying that I am in awe of other people's gifts. I wish I could play the guitar, I wish I could sing, I wish I could paint, I wish I was able to be an effective preacher, and the list goes on and on. For a long time, my feeling of inferiority in these areas left me sitting on the sidelines in church and letting the "gifted" people do their thing. After all, I couldn't possibly be of service right? Well, I was wrong!

When I started getting involved in the church, I saw that there were so many things that I could do. I feel like I am a relatively good listener and I like helping people. I found a ministry at my former church that allowed me to use these traits. I was also on a church committee which also allowed me to serve God and my church family. It wasn't playing the guitar, but it was just as vital a role as leading worship.

Serving God can come in so many small and unassuming things. Praying with those in need, providing the snack suppers for the youth, and delivering bread to visitors of the church are but a few examples of service to God. Many things go on behind the scenes, and gifts of service are just as important there as the gifts of others that are visible on any given Sunday.

One of the most atypical acts of service (for me) that I have ever done was to volunteer to help with a youth lock-in. This is where the youth of the church spend the night at the church, playing games, hanging out, and just being kids. A few hours into the night, I thought, "what have I gotten myself into?" but being able to talk to kids about life and God was amazing. I never saw myself in that role, but that is where God pointed me. The highlight of the event was watching the kids jamming at midnight, praising God and having fun! What better way to serve God?

Everyone has different talents and abilities. My prayer is that every member of this church community would find a ministry that compliments those talents and abilities and uses them to humbly serve God and this church.

Scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 12:27-31

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Service is an important part of being a Christian. In 1 Corinthians 12 , Paul discusses the various gifts of the Holy Spirit that are placed in us: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healings, miracles, prophecy, speaking in tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. These gifts are placed in us by God as a manifestation of our faith. Paul never states that one gift is more important than another. Paul compares each gift as a part of one body. Are the eyes more important than the ears? The feet, hands, eyes, and ears all work together to enable the body to thrive. The same goes for our spiritual gifts. Some of us speak well, some of us sing well, some of us write well, and the list goes on. Each unique gift in us is designed to spread the word of God and impart the Spirit of Truth, which will, in turn, build up the church body. Building up the church body is part of the Community, which John has been discussing in this series. You have a unique gift given to you by God. How will you use it? The answer is service. Service is an important part of this church. If you attend this church regularly, think how someone's service in the church has benefited you. Maybe your children go to the nursery during Sunday service--the nursery workers volunteer as an act of service so that you can hear the word of God. Maybe you have received a meal while you were sick--someone volunteered to cook for you as an expression of concern. Just think what potential gifts you have lurking underneath the surface. Think how that service can spread God's love to someone else.

Scripture:
1 Corinthians 12

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When I think of the topic of service, one song comes to my mind. Part of the song, Waiting for the World to Change, written by John Mayer goes like this:

Now we see everything that's going wrong
With the world and those who lead it
We just feel that we don't have the means
To rise above and beat it
So we keep waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
It's hard to beat the system
When we're standing at a distance
So we keep waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change

I hope that if this song exemplifies how you feel about the world, that you won't just wait for someone else to change it for you. You have God-given gifts just waiting inside you to change the world. Use those gifts in acts of service to God. You'll be amazed at just how much you can change the world.

Scripture:
2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in faith: test yourselves. Do you realize that Christ Jesus is in you

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