Unsung Heroes: Zeal of Timothy — Thursday
2 Timothy 1:4-5
Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. (NIV)
I have the privilege of getting to spend a lot of time with volunteers here at Southland, all the way from middle school age to retirement age and beyond. Something that has struck me about all of our volunteers is the genuine love and passion they have for serving the Lord, whether that be through music, production, or children’s ministry. They are all in for what God is doing in and through the Church, and they want to be a part of it. We have middle-school-age volunteers at our Nicholasville Campus who serve faithfully in children’s ministry every Sunday, and we have retirement-age volunteers at our Richmond Campus who show up every Sunday morning to help load in equipment and get everything ready for services at Madison Central High School. On any given Sunday at any of our campuses, you’ll see all ages serving, oftentimes alongside each other.
What I love about this picture is that it beautifully showcases the kingdom of God—all generations, serving God and people side by side, as the unified body of Christ. Many people, young and old, tend to discount themselves and their value because of their age. There have been many times in my life when I’ve written myself off because I’m young. But the Lord can and wants to use ALL of us. Age is also something that can unite us rather than divide us. We’ve all experienced different things regardless of our age, and we all have a lot to learn from one another. I’ve learned so much about what it means to have child-like faith by watching our students, and also what it means to serve faithfully and with longevity through serving alongside some of our older volunteers. I am so grateful for the passion and joy I see across all generations, and I’m grateful that it’s an integral part of the Church.
Thursday’s Reflection
Are you serving alongside those from other generations? If not, ask the Lord to show you opportunities to do so!