Are You In?
Can you say, “I’m in”? It is very easy to underestimate the importance of being involved. I use the word involved as a verb which simply means to be actively engaged in something.
Involvement is at the very heart and soul of everyone’s life and faith:
Without the involvement of our biological parents, we wouldn’t be here.
Without the involvement of God and His gospel, we wouldn’t have the forgiveness of sin and the hope of eternal life in Jesus Christ.
Without the involvement of our God-given brain, we would miss out on understanding the amazing truths God has revealed in creation and in His Word.
God sums up this vital involvement best in Ephesians 4:16: “from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”
God has chosen to use a servant-driven team of people (His church) to advance His kingdom.
1 Peter 4:10–11 is a great reminder of the “I’m in” commitment (“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”)
Here are four ways every believer is “IN”:
God says we’re included (v. 10: “As each one…”). No one in God’s church is left out or unselected. Everybody is somebody and nobody is just anybody in Christ because we have been created to serve (Eph. 2:10), commanded to serve (Matt. 20:26–28), and needed to serve (1 Cor. 12:27).
God says we’re indebted (v. 10: “has received a special gift, employ it…as good stewards of the manifold grace of God”). Our God-given gift comes with a divine empowerment (“received a special gift…of the manifold grace of God”) and expectations (“as good stewards”).
God says we’re interdependent (v. 10: “employ it in serving one another”). Each of God’s special enablements is designed to benefit others. We need each other to serve and be served.
God says we’re incentivized (v. 11: “whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen”). Our mutual involvement makes God look good and makes sure He gets the credit for the benefit and blessing that each involved servant gives to others.
Let’s see how the Lord can use our involvement this new year for His glory and the good of those around us.
Pastor Jeff