The month of May 2024 marked a couple of significant events in my life.
In early May, I was officially ordained as an elder at ECC. On the day of my ordination, I had the opportunity to look out across our RED-E congregation and see many familiar faces of those God had put into my family’s life as part of ECC. As I scanned the room, what flashed across my mind were the years of walking alongside brothers and sisters in Christ and seeing numerous people who have faithfully served in so many areas (A/V, Children’s Ministry, Church Leadership, Facilities, Planning Committees, Small Group Leadership, Worship Music Teams, etc.). While many acts of service are clear and obvious to others, many would be seen or known by very few. Many small acts of kindness, service, and prayer would be known only to God.
A second milestone event in May was the opportunity and privilege some of us had to lead a small worship team at Damascus International Fellowship (DIF) as part of a Kindred worship team exchange. Because of a misunderstanding, the members of the team had very little notice, yet they were willing to step up and serve in unfamiliar surroundings.
While at DIF, I met the two Audio/Visual Team members, brothers, who had been faithfully serving for years, and who had grown up in the church and served through thick and thin. The two of them that morning were juggling what would typically take four of our A/V people to comfortably do.
All of these experiences reminded me of my/our natural, human desire to be recognized and appreciated for our efforts. While recognition is not always on our minds, it’s sometimes easy for us as humans to think, “Why do I bother? No one cares.”
Over the years, I’ve been buoyed by the encouragement of brothers and sisters. Is there someone who comes to mind that you can encourage today?
There are a number of Bible verses that I have added to my personal list of memory verses. If you’re ever feeling unappreciated, I hope coming back to these can be an encouragement to you as well.
1 Corinthians 15:58
58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Galatians 6:9-10
9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Colossians 3:23-24
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.