September 9, 2015 TO EACH ONE IS GIVEN
Romans 12:6: “And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly:”
1 Corinthians 12: 4-7: “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one was given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
God has made us each unique and each of us has a particular place and function in the body of Christ. In God’s kingdom, there is no place for competition or envy of others and no reason to compare ourselves with others. We find freedom when we realize that God has equipped us, designed us, and gifted us according to His own plans-He made us who we are. When we function as God designed and gifted, our expression of His gifting becomes natural. For example; if I try to teach a class and I am not gifted as a teacher, I am most miserable. Most often, what we find ourselves doing naturally in the body is our gifting. As in the verses above, the gifts vary and ministries vary, and the effects vary but it is the same God that by His grace gives each one a gift. To each of us was given “the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” God has designed it in such a way that He is manifested through the various expressions of the uniquely gifted individuals within the body. (It’s another subject; but this is the reason that we are to assemble together and be a part of the body. Unless we are a “shut in”, substituting TV for a local body of believers or not being a part of a local body is not God’s plan.) God has gifted some and placed some in a governing role in the church, but there are no privates, sergeants, captains, etc. in the body. Each member of the body needs the other members. The tendency of Americans to be “independent” can work against the principles of designs of the body of Christ. Perhaps the greatest challenge for us is to see our need for the other members of the body; perhaps we feel that we “have it all together” spiritually; and perhaps we choose to interact with other members when it is convenient to do so or when we feel like it. We all know that there is no perfect church and there are no perfect Christians, but that is no reason not to take our place in the body. The fact that none are perfect is all the more reason that there is a need for each one to exercise his or her gifting so that we might move on to maturity. So what if you don’t like the music-so what if some members irritate you- so what if someone fails-so what if someone is a hypocrite-so what? We are called to serve, to bless, to encourage, to be light, and to express the manifestation of the Spirit that we have been given-no matter what. So let us be sure and realize afresh that God has given each of us our own manifestation of the Spirit for the common good and let us be faithful in exercising the gift or gifts we have been given. One word of caution: we are not limited to serving just within our gifting. As an example, I may not have the gift of hospitality, but I am to be hospitable. We can express Christ likeness in every aspect of our lives. The body of Christ-the church-needs the benefit of the gifting that God has given you and me.
1 Corinthians 12:11: “But one and the same Spirit works all things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.”
Blessings,
Buddy
Romans 12:6: “And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly:”
1 Corinthians 12: 4-7: “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one was given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
God has made us each unique and each of us has a particular place and function in the body of Christ. In God’s kingdom, there is no place for competition or envy of others and no reason to compare ourselves with others. We find freedom when we realize that God has equipped us, designed us, and gifted us according to His own plans-He made us who we are. When we function as God designed and gifted, our expression of His gifting becomes natural. For example; if I try to teach a class and I am not gifted as a teacher, I am most miserable. Most often, what we find ourselves doing naturally in the body is our gifting. As in the verses above, the gifts vary and ministries vary, and the effects vary but it is the same God that by His grace gives each one a gift. To each of us was given “the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” God has designed it in such a way that He is manifested through the various expressions of the uniquely gifted individuals within the body. (It’s another subject; but this is the reason that we are to assemble together and be a part of the body. Unless we are a “shut in”, substituting TV for a local body of believers or not being a part of a local body is not God’s plan.) God has gifted some and placed some in a governing role in the church, but there are no privates, sergeants, captains, etc. in the body. Each member of the body needs the other members. The tendency of Americans to be “independent” can work against the principles of designs of the body of Christ. Perhaps the greatest challenge for us is to see our need for the other members of the body; perhaps we feel that we “have it all together” spiritually; and perhaps we choose to interact with other members when it is convenient to do so or when we feel like it. We all know that there is no perfect church and there are no perfect Christians, but that is no reason not to take our place in the body. The fact that none are perfect is all the more reason that there is a need for each one to exercise his or her gifting so that we might move on to maturity. So what if you don’t like the music-so what if some members irritate you- so what if someone fails-so what if someone is a hypocrite-so what? We are called to serve, to bless, to encourage, to be light, and to express the manifestation of the Spirit that we have been given-no matter what. So let us be sure and realize afresh that God has given each of us our own manifestation of the Spirit for the common good and let us be faithful in exercising the gift or gifts we have been given. One word of caution: we are not limited to serving just within our gifting. As an example, I may not have the gift of hospitality, but I am to be hospitable. We can express Christ likeness in every aspect of our lives. The body of Christ-the church-needs the benefit of the gifting that God has given you and me.
1 Corinthians 12:11: “But one and the same Spirit works all things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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