Be Devoted To One Another

Be Devoted To One Another

I'm not sure when I first realized it, but one day I suddenly became aware of the fact that I had somehow become a "user" at my church.

What do I mean? How is someone a church user? I mean that I was coming to church to get something out of it.

Now, that’s not such a bad thing. We want a church that feeds us and helps us to grow. But, there is more to it than that. I had become a taker instead of a giver. I was coming to church to get what I wanted, but I wasn't contributing anything for others. I was using my church.

I looked around me and saw that there were a few people in my church who did everything. They were keeping the church running. I, on the other hand, wasn't really that important to my church. I was just taking up a seat. It all came together for me when my Youth Pastor spoke these words, "What would your church look like if everyone were as committed as you are?"

Wow! My church would close up and go away! I was doing nothing. In fact, I was ultimately a drain on my church's resources! If my church were made up of 200 people like me, my church would fail.

That is not how Jesus describes His church. The people in His church are supposed to think more about others than themselves.

Romans 12:10-11

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord."

True believers want to do things for others and be like Jesus. They want to make a difference in others and make their communities better places. One time, Jesus looked at Peter and told him that he wouldn't be able to follow Him where He was going. Peter responded by saying:

John 13:37

“Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.”

His life? Peter was willing to do anything for God. Did that describe my approach to following Jesus? No. I was far from that.

I have made some major changes since that day. Jesus is my passion and my church is where I serve Him. I have made the commitment that I will never be the least important part of my church again.