From the Daily Dose Journal Series

Everyone did their part

_{So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily. ~ Acts 16:5}

This is truly a demonstration of the body of Christ working together as it was intended from the beginning. Everyone doing their part within the body produced the results that Jesus died for His people to have.

This reminds me of what the apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians 12:12 he said, For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. God supernaturally connected His people by appointing Jesus as the head, and through the Spirit of God, He (Jesus) would remain in the world in His body of believers.

This is far greater than we often grasp, and I struggle daily to remind myself that I am not my own. I am part of a body that stretches across the entire planet. In today’s scripture, we see how the body is meant to grow in the world each day. The church at its beginning spread like wildfire because each person was doing their part. They did not depend solely on the apostles to tell the world. They all shared about the love of God and the salvation He provided everywhere they went, all throughout their day. It was the good news then, and it still is today.

So what is our part in the body of believers today? Are we all supposed to pack up our homes and travel the world to spread the message? Does every one of us need to become an ordained minister and start a church in our town? Paul told the Corinthians that each person had a part, but he did not tell them exactly what their part was. What he did say was that God set each member in the body as He pleased (1 Corinthians 12:18). Paul also said there should be no division within the church, but that we should care for one another. Finally, he wrote that we should earnestly desire the best gift for the time we are in, knowing that only the Holy Spirit knows what those gifts are.

Here are some ways to get started in this today:

• Ask God in prayer to show you the part He has placed you in within His body, and listen for His guidance through His Word and His Spirit.
• Start small by serving in simple ways right where you are, whether in your home, your church, or your community, trusting that God uses even the smallest acts of faithfulness.
• Support others in their part, by encouraging them, praying for them, or offering practical help so they can fulfill their calling.
• Avoid comparing your role to someone else’s, instead thank God for the uniqueness of your gifts and use it with joy.
• Be consistent in caring for the people around you, remembering that sharing God’s love in daily life is just as powerful as preaching on a stage.

Today I want to encourage you to operate in your gift and ability within the body of Christ. The only way to truly know your part is by hearing and following the direction of the Holy Spirit in your heart. No one else can tell you exactly what you were called to do, but God has placed you under leaders and within a church family to help you grow. Always remember that your main calling is to care for others and share the good news of salvation with those around you. Even if you never travel the world to preach, your prayers, encouragement, and support of others in the body make a difference. When we all do our part, we will see the same results the early church experienced, and Jesus will continue to grow His work through us in the earth.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 16:1-5

1 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek.

2 He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium.

3 Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek.

4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.

5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in number daily.

Journal:

• What are some small and simple ways I can begin using my gifts to serve others this week?
• How can I encourage someone else in the body of Christ to keep going in their part?