Rumination Journal

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another. Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” — Romans 12:10-11   It is possible to serve without love. We can fulfill responsibilities because they are expected of us, complete tasks simply because they need to be done, or continue participating in a ministry long after our hearts have become disconnected from the reason we began. Outwardly, we may still appear faithful. Inwardly, however, service can slowly become little more than routine. Paul invites us to something deeper. “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.” Christian service is not simply about accomplishing tasks. It is about loving people. The work matters, but so do the people for whom the work is being done. In fact, the people are often the reason the work matters in the first place. The word devoted suggests more than casual concern. It describes an affection that resembles the bonds of a lo...

“The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink. For the body does not consist of one part, but of many.” — 1 Corinthians 12:12-14     The human body is an extraordinary example of unity and diversity. It has many parts, each different from the others, yet each contributes to the life of the whole. Eyes see, ears hear, hands grasp, feet carry, lungs breathe, and the heart pumps blood throughout the body. No single part performs every function, and no healthy body depends upon only one part. Paul uses this familiar image to help us understand the Church. “The body does not consist of one part, but of many.” Christians differ in personality, background, experience, ability, perspective, and calling. Yet through the Holy Spirit, we belong to one body in Christ...

“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘See, I have called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of crafts, to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every craft.’” — Exodus 31:1-5     When we think about people being called and equipped by God, certain images may come immediately to mind. We may think of Moses leading Israel, Isaiah speaking as a prophet, David writing psalms, or the apostles proclaiming the gospel. But tucked within the book of Exodus is the story of a man named Bezalel, whose calling looked very different. God called him to create. Israel was preparing to construct the tabernacle, the sacred place where the people would worship God during their journey through the wilderness. The work required more than religious leadership. It required design, craftsmans...

“There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” — Corinthians 12:4-7     We live in a culture that often encourages us to think about our abilities in terms of personal accomplishment. What can I achieve? How can I distinguish myself? How can my abilities help me succeed? There is nothing wrong with developing our gifts or taking satisfaction in work done well. But when Paul writes about spiritual gifts, he directs our attention away from ourselves and toward something larger. “There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.” Once again, Scripture celebrates diversity. God does not create identical disciples. The Holy Spirit works through different personalities, abilities, experiences, and forms of service. Some people communicate easily in front of a group. Othe...

“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function, so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another. We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith; if it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” — Romans 12:4-8     God never intended the Christian life to be lived alone. When we place our faith in Christ, we become part of something larger than ourselves. Paul describes that community with one of the most beautiful images in the New Testament: the human body. A body has many different parts, and each has a different function. Yet all those parts belong together and contribute to the life and health of the whole. The same is ...

“As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another. If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.” — 1 Peter 4:10-11     Every person has something to offer. We may sometimes look at other people and admire their abilities while overlooking our own. Someone else may seem more talented, more confident, more experienced, or more capable. We may even convince ourselves that because we cannot do what someone else does, we have little to contribute. Scripture gives us a very different perspective. Peter writes, “Each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.” Those words include every believer. God has entrusted something to each of us that can be used in loving service. Pete...

“But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!” — Joshua 24:15     Every life is shaped by choices. Some are small and quickly forgotten, while others influence the direction of our lives for years to come. Yet beneath many of our individual decisions lies an even deeper choice: What will have our highest loyalty? What will guide our priorities, shape our values, and determine the way we live? Near the end of his life, Joshua gathered the tribes of Israel and reminded them of everything God had done for them. God had called Abraham, delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt, guided the people through the wilderness, and brought them into the land He had promised. Joshua was not asking the people to serve a God who had done nothing for them. He was ask...

“Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.” — Galatians 6:9-10     Doing good can be deeply rewarding, especially when we can see the difference our efforts are making. Someone expresses gratitude. A need is met. A problem is solved. A person we have encouraged begins to regain hope. In those moments, service can feel joyful because we can see that what we have done matters. But Christian service does not always provide such immediate encouragement. Sometimes we serve faithfully and see very little evidence that anything is changing. We pray for someone for years. We continue encouraging a person who remains discouraged. We work toward solving a problem that seems stubbornly resistant to improvement. We give our time to a ministry and wonder whether our efforts are accomplishing anything. We try to do what is right, yet t...

“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5;16     Jesus told His followers that they are the light of the world. It is a remarkable description. Light makes things visible. It provides direction. It pushes back darkness. Even a small light can make an enormous difference when everything around it is dark. Then Jesus explained one of the ways His light becomes visible through us: through the good that we do. “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds…” At first, these words might seem to conflict with Jesus’ later instruction in the Sermon on the Mount not to practice righteousness merely to be noticed by others. But the difference is found in the purpose. Jesus does not tell us to perform good deeds so that people will admire us. He tells us to live faithfully so that people may see something of God through us. The goal is not, “Look at me.” The goal is, “Look at ...

“Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men, because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” — Colossians 3:23-24     Much of life is ordinary. We wake up. We prepare for the day. We go to work or attend to responsibilities at home. We answer messages, complete tasks, prepare meals, run errands, care for people, solve problems, and take care of things that need to be done. Then the next day arrives, and we do many of those things again. It can be tempting to imagine that serving God happens primarily during the obviously spiritual moments of life—when we worship, pray, study Scripture, volunteer at church, or participate in a ministry. Those things are certainly important expressions of service. But Paul gives us a much larger vision. “Whatever you do,” he writes, “work at it with your whole being, for the Lord.” Whatever you do. Those words bring God into the ordin...

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: ‘Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” — Isaiah 6:8     There are moments when God places an opportunity before us and waits for our response. Sometimes the opportunity is unmistakable. At other times, it comes quietly through a need we notice, a person we encounter, or a gentle conviction that there is something we should do. The question is not always whether God can use us. The question is whether we are willing to be used. Isaiah’s response, “Here am I. Send me!” is one of the most memorable declarations of willingness in Scripture. But it becomes even more meaningful when we remember what happened before he spoke those words. Isaiah had experienced an overwhelming vision of God’s holiness. Confronted by the majesty of the Lord, he became painfully aware of his own sinfulness and cried out, “Woe is me!” Yet God did not leave Isaiah in guilt and shame. His sin was atoned for, and his guilt was ...

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.” — Ephesians 2:10     Have you ever wondered whether your life truly has a purpose? Scripture answers that question with a wonderful assurance: you are God’s workmanship. You are not an accident or an afterthought. God knows you, loves you, and has created you with purpose. Your life matters to Him, and He desires to work through you in ways that bring His love and grace into the lives of others. Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:10 are especially meaningful when we remember what comes immediately before them. In verses 8 and 9, Paul explains that we are saved by grace through faith, not by our own works. Then he tells us that we have been “created in Christ Jesus to do good works.” The order is important. We do not perform good works in order to earn God’s salvation. We do good works because we have already received His salvation. Grace comes first. Good works ...

“Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” — Mark 10:43-45     What does greatness look like? The world offers many answers. Success. Influence. Recognition. Achievement. Power. But Jesus gave His disciples a very different answer. Greatness looks like service. The disciples had been discussing positions of honor in the kingdom of God. They were thinking about who might be greatest. Jesus redirected their thinking. “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” In God's kingdom, greatness is not measured by how many people serve us. It is revealed by our willingness to serve others.   Pause and reflect: How do I usually measure a successful or meaningful life? Do I think primarily about what I have accomplished, or do I also consider how faithfully I have loved an...

“being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will continue to perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 1:6     Every meaningful project begins with a first step. A seed is planted. A foundation is laid. A journey begins. Yet not every project is completed. Human plans are often interrupted by changing circumstances, limited resources, or unexpected challenges. God's work is different. What He begins... He finishes. “He who began…” The Christian life begins with God. Long before we sought Him, He sought us. Long before we loved Him, He loved us. Our salvation is not the result of our own efforts. It is the gracious work of our Heavenly Father, who called us to Himself through Jesus Christ.   Pause and reflect: Can I see ways that God has been at work in my life over time? As you look back over the past months or years, where do you recognize His patient guidance, His transforming grace, and His faithful care? How does remembering His past...

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!” — 2 Corinthians 5:17     One of the most beautiful truths in the Christian life is that God does not simply improve us. He makes us new. When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, something profound happens. Our relationship with God is restored. Our sins are forgiven. His Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us. A new life begins. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ…” Notice the wonderful inclusiveness of this promise. It is for anyone . No matter your past. No matter your failures. No matter your regrets. No matter how many times you have stumbled. The invitation of Christ remains open. Everyone who comes to Him in faith is welcomed into new life.   Pause and reflect: How has Christ made me new? Looking back over your journey with Him, what changes do you see in your heart, your priorities, your relationships, or your character? What new work might He still be accompli...