MATTHEW 20:28 Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

There is great joy in serving others. My very first real job was at a local convenient store serving ice cream to customers. And the best part about being an ice cream server was actually enjoying the ice cream itself. My job was easy, fun, and I had the opportunity to meet new people while providing them with customer service.

As the body of Christ, we are all called to serve Jesus and His church in some capacity. It even goes further than that! We are also called to serve our families, our friends, our co-workers, our neighbors, and the communities in which we live. The Lord has given each one of us spiritual gifts and talents that we are to use for His glory and to build up His church.

1 CORINTHIANS 12:4-11 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

Do you know what your spiritual gift(s) are? Are you using them for the Glory of God? Ladies I encourage you to read and meditate on His Word while praying and asking Jesus to reveal your spiritual gift(s), so you can begin to use them to further God’s kingdom while you are here on this earth. The scripture reference found in 1 Corinthians 12 as cited above are great verses to read and meditate on during your time of intercession. The exhortation in Romans 12:4-8 is also encouraging:

For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

When I rededicated my life back to Christ, my first ministry opportunity was serving in a gift shop as a cashier at a church. Along with other volunteer cashiers, I was on a rotation schedule. We helped church members and visitors with their gift purchases and occasionally, we assisted in gift wrapping for special events and holidays. I was not a good wrapper. There was a certain criteria to follow in wrapping gifts, so they can be given in a nice presentable fashion. Well, my wrapping skills had a mind of their own. The tissue paper would be side ways and crooked, and once I was done, the nice paper looked like I had a fight with it. It appeared to look weeks old and crumbled up. Over time, I got better at it, but I chose to stay on the register and serve people by ringing up their purchases. Gift wrapping is not my expertise!

On a more serious note, ladies I encourage you to please pray and ask the Lord to show you what your spiritual gifts are, so you can start using them for His glory and His church if you are not doing so already. God will always honor your service commitment to Him. Every role you serve in is important to Him whether it’s praying for and serving your family, praying for a friend, helping in the children’s ministry, opening your home for fellowship and/or a bible study, honoring your husband, cooking, cleaning, being a good employee, or encouraging someone in their faith, God sees it all and He will reward you for your faithful service to Him. He’s our Good, Good Father!

Colossians 3:23-24 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Warren Wiersbe:

“No good deed done for the glory of Jesus Christ will ever be forgotten before God. No loving word spoken in Jesus’ name will ever be wasted.”