Everyone Has A Part To Play!

I love it, when a plan comes together. When there seems to be a problem, a solution is just a phone call away. Here is what I’m talking about.  For the past year, I have volunteered at the Community Reformed Church, in Whiting NJ. What do I do? I help with the food pantry, on Monday.

Monday is generally quiet, when compared to the other four days. After Thanksgiving, you might think Monday would be extra quiet. Really? When I walked in, I quickly notice someone has delivered a bunch of food. “Great. We’re off to a good start,” I thought.

There’s just one thing. Along with the good food, someone has donated a lot of baby food. Uh Oh. The people who normally come to this food pantry are either elderly or middle-aged adults. We rarely see young families with infants. Our manager didn’t want this food going to waste.

That’s a problem.

I go to a church in South Toms River. Shore Vineyard is home to a lot of young families. As it happens, we have a small food pantry with plenty of food. After talking with Dottie, I called a friend. After explaining the situation to Don, I was told to bring the stuff over to Shore Vineyard.

He suggested that I’d call Jean and LeRoy. They live in my area and could provide a ride. I love how a plan comes together! In truth, my Father is the master planner and God knew about the problem. Of course, God would naturally provide a solution.

²⁸ And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. [Romans 8:28]

As it happens, Jean explain there was a definite need for the baby food. Some families were having a very difficult time and they have infants. Gee, I thought this would be a quiet day. Not!

This morning, I was considering what to write. It was already in my heart to share about the Body of Christ. This is before my friend came and picked me, up. We’re heading to the food pantry.

Every believer has a part to play in the Body of Christ, the Church. It’s not about what church, I go to. It’s knowing that I’m a member of the Body of Christ and I can contribute. There is more to it. How about this? I benefit greatly because I’m part of the community of believers. I’ll let Paul wraps this up:

¹² For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. ¹³ For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

¹⁴ For the body is not one member, but many. ¹⁵ If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. ¹⁹ If they were all one member, where would the body be? ²⁰ But now there are many members, but one body. ²¹ And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” ²² On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; ²³ and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, ²⁴ whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, ²⁵ so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. ²⁶ And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

²⁷ Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. ²⁸ And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. ²⁹ All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? ³⁰ All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? ³¹ But earnestly desire the greater gifts.

And I show you a still more excellent way. [1 Cor 12:12-31]