August 29

Are You a Foot Deep?


The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them on ahead in pairs to all the towns and villages he planned to visit.

Luke 10:1 (NLT)


Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life….

Matthew 28:19a (the Message)


Service is not an option. As Christians, we are all servants, all ambassadors. We just don’t understand that truth and the results speak for themselves.

As church or ministry leaders, we are sometimes too quick to load up a few faithful servants and dismiss others as uninterested, unfaithful or incapable. So, here’s the problem: we let too many people off the hook and burn out the few who want to do all they can … and then some.

The interesting thing about our Lord: He could have done it all, but He didn’t. He shared the load. He showed others how. He wasn’t a solo act. He built community and He trained others to do the work. The Twelve, to be sure, but many more besides.

Our job is not to find a couple people and load them up a mile deep in ministry. No, with a few we pour ourselves in a mile deep in relationship and we grow together. But ministry, service—these are for everyone. We all need to be a foot deep here ... at least.

His design then is this: everyone serves someone else, somewhere else, somehow … as He directs.


Father, bring us opportunities. Teach us how to serve, and help us serve together. Amen.