- Acts 20:1-6 - And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia. And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece, And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia. And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. These going before tarried for us at Troas. And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.
- 1 Corinthians 12:14-27 - For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
- 1 Corinthians 3:8 - Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
As members of the body of Christ, we all have a responsibility to spread the Gospel and serve one another. No one can deny that the apostle Paul played a key role in the founding of the early church. However, Paul almost never served alone. Throughout the book of Acts and his epistles, we see many believers who helped Paul in his ministry. Today's passage mentions the ministry team that traveled with Paul through Macedonia, including Luke. Although we have little information about most of them, each one was an important servant used by God in the formation of the church. In 1 Corinthians 12:14-27, Paul compares the church to a body. Just as all members are necessary for the body to function healthily, so too in the body of Christ, every believer serves with a spiritual gift given by God. While some ministries may be more visible, in God's eyes, every believer is equally valuable. God evaluates our ministry not by human applause, but by our devotion to Him and the intentions of our hearts. Our service may seem great or small, but the Lord sees our faithfulness and promises to reward those who serve Him (1 Cor. 3:8). Therefore, let us find our joy not in the approval of people, but in participating in God's eternal plan.
Reflection
How can you use your spiritual gifts and area of service to support others? How valuable do you consider your service in the eyes of God, even if it does not attract the attention of people?