Be Complete

"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." 2 Corinthians 13:14.


Working in God's vineyard is both a great honor and a great responsibility. Not everyone is given such an honor, much less such a responsibility.

We, His servants in this city, called and assembled by God from different places, different generations and different cultures, to work together to help deliver God's Word, to intercede, to build each other up, share the gospel and help lead others to Christ here and help support local and international missionaries and ministries, share in this honor (and this responsibility).

And it doesn't matter, if our individual task is small. Ours is a responsibility given us by our Lord and a calling that He has planned out long before we were ever conceived in our mother's womb. We were born to do this and much more if we so accept it. Like Paul did, and so did Aquila, and Priscilla and all the other servant-leaders in the first church in Corinth.

Paul started the church there, he visited the fellowship of believers there, twice, and he wrote to them two other times.

The Corinthian believers weren't prefect, but Paul loved them. They were flawed like each one of us. Paul's first letter to them was described as severe (1st Corinthians). His second letter was much of the same (what can I say, they were flawed and hard headed). But he ended that letter with the wonderful prayer above:

"The amazing grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of our Father in heaven, and the companionship and intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of them."

He knew that when all of these come together, even with all their weaknesses, their shortcomings, their trials, and all their struggles, the service that they do for the Lord will be complete, and they will be full of peace, and joy and have the strength to carry on, no matter what.

And this goes the same for us, and others who continue to work in God's vineyard in this day and time. Our Lord is the same Lord, and He still is the same God -- Our Good Good Father. And His Spirit is still the same gentle, comforting, counseling, correcting and loving Spirit. And we need all three in our daily walk and ministry. The best is yet to come.


Galatians 6:9-10 (MSG)
"So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith."