Never AloneSample

The Missing Piece Is You

Have you ever bought something large that you needed to assemble, and then, when putting it together, found you were missing a piece?

Recently, I bought a new wheelbarrow. I was excited. It had a large tub and was one of those two-wheeled beauties!

When I got it home, and my son and I were putting it together, we realized we were missing a piece.

And not just any piece.

We were missing the axle.

It’s amazing how excited we can get about something like a wheelbarrow, and then have our joy drop when we realize it’s incomplete.

Paul talks about the Church like this, but he uses the illustration of the human body instead of a wheelbarrow.

He says in 1 Corinthians 12 that the Church has many parts to it, and when one part is missing, the body can’t function as God designed it to.

And how did God design it?

He gave everyone one of us gifts to use in the Church. Gifts of knowledge, service, discernment, encouragement, prayer, and so much more.

Just like opening the wheelbarrow box and finding all the individual parts that need to be put together for it to work, the Church needs your specific gifts for it to function to its fullest.

When it comes to loneliness, the lie we believe is that someone in the Church should come to us.

But what if, instead, we go to them and find a place to serve? The opportunities are endless.

Usher. Sound person. Greeter. Kids & Youth Ministry helper. Coffee maker. Musician. Singer. Prayer Team.

And more!

And the cool part is that when you find a place to use your gifts, there’s a good chance you will find others to connect with, and you won’t be as lonely anymore.

So, get off the sidelines and get involved. You might just be the missing axle that your church has been looking for.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You that You see me in my loneliness. Help me to find a place to use the gifts You have given me to connect with others and make a difference in Your Church and in the world around me. Amen.

Reflection: What is one gift you could use in your church? Or what is one way you could volunteer in your church? Talk to the person who can help you get connected.