There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 NIV
How can we serve the Lord? Many people would limit serving the Lord to those who are on stage during the worship time. Others will expand it to include elders, deacons, teachers, and maybe a few other roles. But what both of these have in common is that service within the body of Christ is limited to just a subset of the church body.
There are also some of us who acknowledge that all believers have been called to serve within a local body of Christ. As the next verse says, each of us has received a spiritual gift for the good of the body. Many of us struggle to understand how we have been equipped. But at least we recognize that we should be doing something.
But could it be that, while all are called to serve, that service might not be in the context of a local church? The issue here is not about being involved in a local church. I believe that is essential for all of us. But is it possible that my place of service to the body of Christ is outside of a local church?
A Different Kind of Service
This passage is very personal to me at this stage in my life. I am a member of a local church and participate as much as I can remotely. But my primary service, writing this blog, is not specifically to that local church. Rather, it is going out to the body as a whole. I do believe this is where God has called me to be now. And I do pray that this service is useful and edifying to the body of Christ.
I would encourage all of you reading this and who are believers in the Lord Jesus, to take stock of how God has equipped you to serve. And to be faithful to that regardless of what your gift is, the area of service you perform, or the type of work you are called to.
