REFLECTIONS ON PEOPLE

Jim Garner

The spring season is a busy time for most churches and communities. From various academic and extra-curricular responsibilities at school wrapping up to church bible studies, special ministry events, and service recognitions it can leave you spinning or exhausted. But these times are significant and meaningful in our lives, whether we are the participant or the one receiving the blessing of being a part of the journey as an educator, coach, parent, or just a part of the audience. 

The Church, the body of Christ, has an amazing opportunity to be a part of this in every believer’s life. It’s something we should never take for granted as we “reflect” on people and the impact we can have on each other.

“I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:3-6)

The word “partnership” is a privilege in our lives that we should enjoy at every life stage in the church. It is so easy to get “silo-ed” in a large church with so much going on that we can miss out on the gift or privilege to impact each other’s lives along the way. This hit me recently as I reflected on this busy time. In less than a six-week period of time at North Side we will have experienced: children’s ministry musical, senior adult appreciation day, the recognition and honoring of Mother’s Day and graduate recognition, and a time to memorialize those who have gone before us having paved a way for us to reap so many benefits and blessings of life.

Just stop a minute and reflect on the privilege and purpose in this special season. Through all these life stages we have been blessed or had the opportunity to be a blessing of “partnership in the gospel”. As people, whether we are a child standing before the church singing and dancing in worship to God, launching out into a new time of life through academic and career challenge, or being honored for faithful service, we need to remember that it is all valuable and what makes the Church special with its body and varying parts to bring glory to God and to take the gospel to the world.

So in the busyness of this season I would like for you to pause right now and do a few things based on definitions from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

*RECOGNIZE – know and remember someone or something because of previous knowledge or experience; accept and approve of something as having official authority.

Who do you recognize in your life today as having added value to it? What were those things they taught you or challenged you to do? How can you affirm someone today – especially a child or teenager?

*APPRECIATE – to understand the worth or value of something or someone with an expression of gratefulness. 

Based on the answers above, take some time right now and mail them a hand-written note, send a text, or make a quick phone call to say “thanks” so you can appreciate them for the value they have added to your life.

*HONOR – respect that is given to someone who is admired; good character or reputation as judged by other people.

How do you honor people in your life that have impacted you? What are you doing in your life to build an honorable reputation? 

*REMEMBER – to keep an image or idea in your mind of something or someone from the past that you don’t want to forget.

Write down (3) things that “honorable” people in your life taught you. How are you living those things out in front of others? What are the things in life that you want others to remember you by one day? Make changes, if needed, to live it out now.

It is never to late to recognize, appreciate, honor, and remember. Jesus called us to do so every time we gather in worship and remember His great sacrifice for us. When we do these things we are not only challenging and improving ourselves, but we are affirming and inspiring others along the way. The body of Christ and specifically, North Side Baptist Church needs more of this. It will make us all greater in our faith as well as the impact in our “community” and for our community here in Parker County.

Scripture to Claim: 
Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the Emperor. I Peter 2:17