Wednesday 28 June, 2017
Romans 12:3-8
3 God’s grace has been given to me. So here is what I say to every one of you. Don’t think of yourself more highly than you should. Be reasonable when you think about yourself. Keep in mind the faith God has given to each of you. 4 Each of us has one body with many parts. And the parts do not all have the same purpose. 5 So also we are many persons. But in Christ we are one body. And each part of the body belongs to all the other parts. 6 We all have gifts. They differ according to the grace God has given to each of us. Do you have the gift of prophecy? Then use it according to the faith you have. 7 If your gift is serving, then serve. If it is teaching, then teach. 8 Is it encouraging others? Then encourage them. Is it giving to others? Then give freely. Is it being a leader? Then work hard at it. Is it showing mercy? Then do it cheerfully.
It’s interesting that the stern warning in verse 3 “don’t think you are better than you are” comes straight after the admonition to be transformed by changing the way you think. V2. It’s also interesting that Paul should then go on to list a bunch of actions like prophesying, serving, giving, teaching, encouraging and leading. There’s a link between thinking rightly and serving effectively.
Sometimes I’m doing a job but my mind is elsewhere. I’m doing a mundane task but in my head and heart I’m doing something else, something better or more exciting or will get more accolades. The task at hand always suffers.
Church can be like that sometimes. Eg. I think I should be preaching to the masses but instead cleaning the toilets. But there’s no room for envy in God’s house. As a wise man once said “the only thing on offer in the church is service”.
I think that’s what Paul’s getting at here in this passage – “don’t think too highly of yourself, work out what gift you’ve got to serve God with, then get on with it.”
Thank you Lord for your Church, the sacred and precious body of Jesus, and the blessing that a wretch like me gets to be involved. Whatever you want Lord, any job at all, I’ll do it gladly and keep my mind on the job. Amen
Written by Boudy VanNoppen
Thanks B
I love how after calling us to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice which is an individual call – He then calls us to community – a call to a life of serving together.
“5 So also we are many persons. But in Christ we are one body. And each part of the body belongs to all the other parts.”
Thank you Lord for planting me into Your church – I am not serving You alone – I am serving Your in great company – with Your people.
One of the gifts he lists is “giving freely”! Never noticed that! I know people who are such generous givers… they re so encouraging. Now I know they are gifted! The image of the parts belonging to each other also speaks to me- we are intended to be in this community like Ps Linda says. This is where we will function best, reach our potential.