The Gift of a Partner in the Gospel
By Laura Bailey
"In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now." - Philippians 1:4-5 (NIV)
“You did such a great job planning this event!”
“I don’t know how you do it all; such a wonderful time!”
“Wow, you are a superwoman. Thank you so much for your time and energy in preparing for this conference.”
I was overwhelmed by the response of women in our community at a recent women’s conference hosted by two churches in our area. Their kind words were abundant, and their appreciation poured freely from their hearts. While I was most appreciative to hear how they were spiritually fed, delighted in fellowship with their sisters in Christ and thoroughly enjoyed the lunch, I hated that I was the only one receiving their gratitude.
This past weekend’s events were a culmination of many people’s efforts. While I was the “face of the event,” I by no means pulled off this incredible weekend of worship and revival on my own.
From the inception, my co-chair gave equally her time and talents to ensure this weekend went off with a hitch. Another lady in the area met with us countless times to provide guidance and direction, sharing her past conference experiences. Multiple teams collaborated to facilitate the day’s events: worship, security, check-in, lunch, welcoming, and prayer. Yes, I may have been the one who greeted guests from the stage, but it was a true partnership in sharing the Gospel.
I am deeply moved by Paul's words as he opens his letter to the church of Philippians. It is a profound privilege to partner with, come alongside, and work with the body of believers for Gospel advancement.
Far too often, other Churches and brothers and sisters in Christ can feel more like competition than companions in ministry. But we are on the same team—we are all valued and play a role in God's kingdom.
Jesus tells his disciples in Matthew 5:37-38, “Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Jesus looked out into the crowds that followed Him and saw they were like sheep, lost and needing a Shephard. As Christ-followers, we have a unique opportunity to co-labor with God; we are the hands and feet of Jesus on Earth. We can do that in two ways: through prayer and by fulfilling the needs of those around us.
Jesus cared deeply about the individual, but he also valued community. There were 12 disciples, all with unique gifts and talents. They were meant to work together to share the Gospel. Far too often, we can get stuck in a rut of comparison or feel that we aren't as effective for the Kingdom because we don’t have this gift or aren’t like that person. Friend, shut down that lie; it is straight from the one who desires to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10).
Let us look for ways to partner with other believers for the sake of the Gospel. May we pray that other churches in our area grow in number and that the Lord blesses their congregation and ministry. We can genuinely cheer on our friends and co-laborers in Christ because we know that God has uniquely gifted them to serve Him. Their talents don't extinguish ours — we ignite one another. This unified mission to make God known, making it about Him, not us. Countless people need to hear about the eternal hope found in Jesus Christ---let's be champions of the Gospel together.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Today, ask the Lord to expose an area where you feel the need to compete negatively with your brothers and sisters in Christ. Say a prayer of confession, and then ask the Lord to give you a heart of genuine excitement and contentment over that situation. How can you partner with other churches or believers to help share the love of Jesus?
Further Reading:
Acts 28:30-31
Identifying My Spiritual Gifts
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Rawpixel
She lives in Upstate South Carolina with her husband and three young girls, where she serves as director of women's ministries at her church. Her passion is teaching the Bible to women, equipping them to live with an eternal perspective. Invite Laura to speak at your next event or learn more: www.LauraRBailey.com
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