And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

In any team sport, there are many positions to play, and the various roles differ from one another. If the teams were formed around singular positions, they would be significantly less successful. Although the teammates would share a lot in common, they would lack strategy and perspective on the field. A team is successful when all the team members do their jobs to the best of their ability, helping their teammates meet the common goal of winning the game. Similarly, the church has been given many different positions, gifts, and testimonies. And they are unique for a reason!

The church has different roles and gifts to contribute to the body, for the glory of God. Have you taken time to consider and prepare for the part you have to play? Imagine if a sports team member worked on his or her skills, becoming the best player he or she could be, but never encouraged or helped his or her teammates. An individual may be productive in a position, but that person can never achieve the same potential of the entire team working together to the best of their ability. Ministry is exhausting, helping other people is not easy, and striving to be Christlike is not for the faint of heart. God knows we can’t take on this task alone. We need to help and encourage each other along the way. Galatians 6:9-10 reminds us, “Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”

• When has someone encouraged you in your faith? How did that impact you?
• What are some gifts you have that you can use for God’s glory and building up the body of Christ?
• Pray and thank God for the people who have been encouraging and helpful in your walk with Christ.