THE BODY, YOUR CHURCH
Brenda Lineberger
Today’s Scripture: “When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, ‘What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?’” Exodus 18:14, ESV
Theme: God doesn’t call us to minister or live life alone; sometimes it takes pointed questions from a trusted advisor to help us see the problem.
FEAR PREVENTS PROGRESS
Moses was indeed a godly man who found himself wandering through the wilderness with a group of angry, belligerent, disobedient, stiff-necked complainers. It’s no wonder he felt responsible for them—after all, he was the one who convinced them to follow him into the desert. They were unhappy about leaving what was familiar for the unknown, even if that unknown meant freedom. But God never called Moses to shoulder all the responsibility alone.
In fact, God offered to speak directly to the people Himself, but they were afraid and insisted that Moses speak on their behalf instead. Over time, that weight became overwhelming. Moses needed a trusted voice to help him see how unsustainable this was. His father-in-law, Jethro, that trusted friend—and a priest himself—recognized the danger. He understood leadership well enough to know that Moses would wear himself out if he tried to do everything alone, especially when there were capable people he could invite to help.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
It truly takes a village to build a kingdom or grow a church—and Jesus proved it. He came with the Gospel, a new way, and a new covenant to share with the world. What did He do? He chose twelve misfits and transformed them into disciples. He looked beyond their rough edges and saw what was in their hearts. He taught them, corrected them when necessary, and then pushed them—out of the nest, so to speak—to go and share the Good News, heal the sick, and even cast out demons. Jesus entrusted them with responsibility, believed in them, and sent them out—and now their stories are written in God’s Word.
Then there’s Paul, who planted church after church and faithfully placed trustworthy leaders in each one to help them grow. And Nehemiah—what would have happened if he had chosen to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem by himself? Even God dispatches His trusted angels to carry out important work. God has always worked through community.
GIVE THEM WINGS
Deep down, every person has a desire to do something meaningful—to make a difference, to do something good. This is especially true for a child of God. Everyone has a gift, often more than one. But some are shy, quiet, or self-conscious. Others simply don’t know what their gift might be yet. Often, all they need is encouragement and a safe place to step in and be part of the village—making a difference only they can make.
Make It Personal: I definitely fell into the category of quiet, shy, and very self-conscious. But The Cove encouraged me and, most importantly, made me feel safe. Now I love serving, and I love being even a small part of a village that is growing the church and building God’s Kingdom. I found my purpose—and it feels good.
Take a moment to reflect:
- Where do you see yourself in this story—are you hesitant to step in, or are you already serving but carrying too much alone?
- What fears might be holding you back from using the gifts God has placed inside you?
- Who has God placed in your life to encourage you—or who might God be inviting you to encourage so that they feel safe to step forward?
Pray: Lord, thank You for loving us. Thank You for planting Your Church in our hearts. Thank You for the brothers and sisters we have the privilege of serving alongside to build up Your Kingdom. There is no greater joy. Please fill our hearts with courage to step out and do our part in making others feel safe to share their gifts as well. After all, we’re family. Amen.
Read: Nehemiah 3, Luke 9:1-2
Weekly Memory Verse: “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” Psalm 127:1a, ESV