What does it mean to be effective as Christians?

As a Christian, my effectiveness is directly tied to my involvement in achieving God’s desired effect.  The Bible is full of illustrations revealing the small role an individual’s life can play in God’s plan; we are all different parts of one body with Christ as our head (1 Cor. 12:12-31, Eph. 4:11-16), and we are stones in God’s temple with Christ as our cornerstone (1 Cor.3:10-16, 1 Pet. 2:4-5).  At times, however, we can still walk away wanting the effect to be ours - as if God depends solely on us to do a specific work.  We want to be personally responsible for some sort of impact on as many as possible. 

This is not a unique issue to any specific culture or time.  We see the Corinthians dealing with it when they were jealous of others’ spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:1-11).  In the same way, Korah was not satisfied with his role within God’s nation (Num. 16:1-35).   As a woman with “off-stage” roles, I’m embarrassed to admit I have struggled at times with feeling under-valued or over-qualified for the work required of me.  My husband is a fantastic Bible student and speaker and is never short of compliments when he is teaching.  When I teach, on the other hand, I spend the hour wrestling crying children, crawling on the ground, singing, jumping, and playing; only to leave the classroom with glue on my hands and my earrings in my pocket. 

When the focus is me, it’s easy to be discouraged. But when we consider the privilege we have to be a part of something bigger, there is no shame in our work - quite the opposite.  As Moses asks Korah in response to his complaint, “…is it too small a thing for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do service in the tabernacle of the Lord…?” (Num. 16:9)  No work is too small when it is done in service to the kingdom.

Look at the effect Tabitha had on the widows in Joppa.   Peter was close by and seems to only have been called to come and bring back their friend and servant (Acts 9:36-43).  Even in the company of an Apostle, they missed their friend Tabitha.  They loved her, and they needed her.  Her small work was big to them.  Finally, sisters, we need to remember - while our work is meaningful, God’s will can be accomplished without us.  There is nothing so special about us as to limit or improve God’s plan.  Consider what Mordecai told Esther in Esther 4:14, “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish.”  God’s will - His effect - will be realized. 

Here is our privilege as priestesses - we can be a part of it, even in the smallest of ways!