We are the Church
Acts 6:1-7, John 16:4-15, Ephesians 4:1-16
The enemy is trying to pull apart the church as we see different people groups within the church having confrontations against each other. These confrontations are rooted in assumptions and unmet expectations. The Hellenist making the complaint was people who clung to the Greek culture, and the Hebrews tended to lean toward the Jew culture. “It’s important to remember that though the titles Hebrews and Hellenists are used, these were Christians, followers of Jesus. They were all from a Jewish background, but they had all embraced Jesus as their Messiah” (David Guzik-Enduring Word). This unintentional wrong could have been used against them to split, argue, or criticize, but God is leading the early church’s apostles and using it for His good.
I have seen this happen so many times in the church. Sometimes I expect people to care for me in a certain way, but I don’t express this expectation. I’ve had this expectation put on me as well, and it’s not fun. When the Hellenists made their complaint about the widows not getting taken care of, the Hebrews did not react how I often find myself responding, which is to point fingers or people please to the point where I am putting too much on my plate, but they are wise in their thinking. They encourage the Hellenists to pick seven men among them to lead out in caring for the widows. The truth is we can’t do everything. We can’t do all that people expect of us, nor do we have to. God has given all of us unique passions and talents to accomplish His work in the church. The apostles were devoting themselves to teaching and praying and didn’t mean to neglect the care for the widows, but the Hellenist concerned had able people among them who could carry out that work.
Whether you are a village leader, Joshua, volunteer, or new believer, we are all given passions and talents, and it is just a matter of recognizing what needs there are in the church and where we can use these gifts. We don’t have to be someone higher up in leadership to meet needs in the church. We don’t need to expect other people to make something better, but we can be a part of building the church up ourselves. As a believer, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit who resides in us and works through us. He can and will direct our lives if we trust in Him. The Holy Spirit guides us, convicts us, gives us the Father’s power (John 16: 4-15).
We are not to neglect our gifts and leave them up to others, but to work together to be the church. We must work together to unite together with Christ, as a bride is to her groom.
“Rather, speaking in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love” (Ephesians 4:15-16)
Do you recognize the Holy Spirit living inside of you? Why do you struggle to acknowledge that?
What needs in the church exist that you can use your passions and talents to help fill?