Simple Service
Scripture Reading — Romans 12:1-8
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.
—Romans 12:6
When I think about all the good things a person can do, I get a little overwhelmed. We have so many possible ways to volunteer our time and resources. We have opportunities to serve lunch at school, deliver food baskets in the evening, read to children, rake leaves for senior citizens, teach Sunday school, serve on a church committee, write letters to prisoners, give money to different organizations, invite our neighbor to church, help build a home for someone—the list could go on and on.
But when God calls us to serve, he doesn’t mean for us to get overwhelmed. He doesn’t tell us that we have to do every good thing that we can possibly do. He tells us to use our gifts. God has a lot of people who are working to serve him. This means each of us can use our individual gifts to serve God, without feeling guilty about other opportunities we may have missed. In Romans 12 the Bible describes the church as a group of people who focus on using their gifts to serve the Lord.
When we walk with God, we are called to action. We are supposed to show his grace to a world that desperately needs it. We recognize that our actions will not address or correct every problem that exists, but we can use our gifts and abilities to reach beyond ourselves to show God’s grace through our actions.
Heavenly Father, activate the gifts you have given me, so that through my actions others may see your grace. Amen.
About the author — Bill Sytsma
Bill Sytsma is a graduate of Calvin Theological Seminary (M.Div) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (D.Min). He is the author of the book Follow the Leader and is serving as the pastor of New Life Christian Reformed Church in Highland, Indiana. He and his wife, Staci, have hosted support groups for families built through adoption. He and Staci are the proud parents of three active boys: Luke, Isaac, and Nico.
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