2002-01-01
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Today, God directs me to share His perspective on our individual differences and how we are to relate to each other as members of the Body of Christ. Let me begin by repeating a citation from yesterday’s message that is wholly germane to this issue. RO 12: 4-6a, “We have many parts in the one body, and all these parts have different functions. In the same way through we are many, we are one body in union with Christ, and we are all joined to each other as different parts of one body. So we are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us.” You will notice that there is no mention of one gift being more important than another. It is also obvious that for a human body to function, each part must do its job without losing sight of the common overall purpose. In a human body that is to carry out its functions to sustain life and health. In a spiritual body like the Body of Christ, it is to work for the purpose of unifying and edifying the Body of Christ. That doesn’t leave room in a healthy body for one or more of its parts to act independently with no consideration for the good of the whole in either physical or spiritual body. My father, who was a physician, used to remind me that it is mankind that has put doctors on pedestals in society. That is why there is such disappointment when they are sometimes discovered to have clay feet. However, he would go on to ask, where would we all be if there was no one to haul away our garbage, help us keep our cars running, clean our offices and buildings, and keep our streets swept clean and passable? He surely had a point.
God is very clear about what our attitude should be toward the work He asks us to do. RO 12: 6b-8, “If our gift is to speak God’s message, we should do it according to the faith that we have; if it is to serve, we should serve; if it is to teach, we should teach; if it is to encourage others, then we should do so. Whoever shares with others should do it generously; whoever has authority should work hard; whoever shows kindness to others should do it cheerfully.” What talents we possess came out of a decision God made before we were born for what He wanted us to do. Sometimes it isn’t clear to us what that talent is, so there are ways for us to discover it. Many congregations offer a spiritual gifts inventory for members. This is one way you can find out. The others are through study of the Word, prayer, and observing what interests you have had over a period of time. Others know from the time they are young children what those talents are and need to look to God for direction in using them. The talents mentioned above are easy to detect like teaching, speaking publicly, and writing. Others are just as important but not so obvious. For example, parenting, having a heart for service through different kinds of volunteering, nurturing little children, building and repairing things, computer skills or whatever. I know of a person with Downs syndrome who is the most loving and caring bus boy I’ve ever seen. His diligence and cheerfulness on the job is a gift to everyone around him from God.
More about God’s desire for us is revealed in RO 12: 9-13, “Love must be completely sincere. Hate what is evil, hold on to what is good. Love one another warmly as Christian brothers, and be eager to show respect for one another. Work hard and do not be lazy. Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion. Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times. Share your belongings with your needy fellow Christians, and open your homes to strangers.” If we have real hope in the resurrection, then we have every reason to feel joy in the work that we are doing for the Lord. The only way to eschew evil is to know what really is evil with the discernment that comes from study of the Scriptures and prayer. Once we know what it is, then we can work to expunge it from our lives. If it was all gone from our lives, then we would be fully sanctified and ready for glorification. Since we are not ready yet, then we can assume this getting rid of sin in our lives should be a work in progress. There are times when we try to reject a call God has given us, offering man-made rationalizations for why we can’t do that job. There are other times when we must be dragged, almost kicking and screaming like a petulant child, to a task God needs us to do. Once we do it, we see how very wise our loving Abba was to send us to it. How grateful I am that He is compassionate and patient with us! Working for God is the only job I know of where you put in one unit and get back ten-usually with no money changing hands. Think about it. North Americans are extraordinarily generous as a society. The kind of volunteerism that exists here is often amazing. It gives me hope that such an ethic still exists in the face of all the other problems our society has. That gift of giving and community service is surely God’s way.
Tomorrow, we will finish up the rest of RO 12 and move on to some of the other places in the Scriptures where God reveals His will for the Body of Christ. We can all see that the construct our Father gives us is a radical departure from its alternatives. It often takes courage and self-discipline to follow the path that God has laid out for us. Obedience to Him can take us to unfamiliar territory, as it does missionaries going to foreign countries, and it can take us to uncomfortable places, as it does when we must work among the ill and dying as Mother Theresa did. In every situation we find ourselves when we are doing God’s work, He provides us with an unparalleled opportunity for personal and spiritual growth. He often commissions us to do tasks or enter into relationships that reach our most vulnerable areas, the areas of our greatest weaknesses. His ultimate purpose is to give us the chance to gain the strength in these areas He knows we need in them to be perfected and ready to assume our place beside Christ in His Kingdom. Those are the decisions of a Father Who loves you.
PRAYER: O Lord, You have presented us with clear direction concerning the work we should do as a part of the Body of Christ and the attitude we should take in doing that work. Each task you call us to is designed to deal with our individual areas of weakness, to bring us the strengths we need to be ready to become joint-heirs with Christ to Your Kingdom. You remind us that each member of the Body of Christ is important not only to You but to all of the others. No one person is more important to You than another. Your heart is big enough to love us all equally and unconditionally. You have set the paradigm for us to follow in our relationships with the other members and have commissioned us to bring Your Gospel to as many non-members as will listen. We praise, thank, honor, and adore You for Who you are in our lives. We accept Your assignments. In Christ’s name, amen.
God’s love is so immense that it fills every corner of our lives. We need never feel alone or abandoned, even when we are feeling the pain of working through some of the tough assignments He gives us. Remember that if one or more of us come together in His name, He is right there with us (MT 18: 19-20). Be encouraged by the love in your faith today and always. Peter and I also send you our love.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn