Every Chrisitan has basic spiritual needs, and one of them is fellowship with other believers. Christians need to get together to read and study God's Word, to sing and praise the Lord, and to pray for and encourage one another--"to stir up love and good works," as the apostle Paul put it.

"Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day [of Jesus' return] approaching" (Hebrews 10:24-25). When we spend time with others who also love the Lord and who are doing their best to please Him, it refreshes and strengthens us spiritually.

It's important to understand, however, that meeting together for fellowship and spiritual renewal, whether it is done in a church building, a cathedral, a house, a thatched hut, or the open air, is not our "service" for the Lord. Many people have the mistaken impression that by going to church, listening to a sermon, and giving a monetary offering, they have fulfilled their obligation to God. While those things may be helpful and pleasing to God, there's more to being a true Christian.

Every Christian is meant to be on call, always ready and willing to do whatever the Lord may ask. When Jesus gave His followers what has come to be known as the Great Commission--"Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere" (Mark 16:15 TLB)--He meant for every Christian to do whatever they can to help spread His love and message. Even though they may have other jobs and responsibilities, all Christians can share the good news with those whose lives touch their own.

Every Christian is meant to be on call, always ready and willing to do whatever the Lord may ask.

So our actual "service" for the Lord is in our everyday living for Him. It's in our helping others, showing them love, and pointing them to Jesus and salvation. This is our service to God, and it's genuine work that requires dedication and a measure of self-sacrifice. It's often hard work, but it's also the greatest work in the world, for the best Boss in the world, with the best pay in the world-eternal rewards for every labor of love and every person we lead to Jesus.

The plan that the early Christians put into practice so effectively was for believers to unite not only for fellowship, but also in the common cause of reaching out to others with the message of God's love in Jesus. Their meetings were not for their own benefit only, but to learn how to become more effective in their service for the Lord, to get refilled and reinspired after pouring out to others, and to get ready for more service ahead.

There are dedicated Christians today who operate like Jesus and His disciples and the early Christians did. By putting God first and investing as much of their time and other resources as possible in serving the Lord wherever He has them, these otherwise ordinary people have helped millions discover the love, peace, true satisfaction, and eternal salvation that only Jesus can give. And by their example, they have proven anyone can do it.

With God's help, you too can share God's message of true love and salvation with those whose paths cross yours. You too can live a life that reflects Jesus' love!