Abilities within Christ’s body
Key Verses: 2, 4, 7, 12, 18, 28,
Some people can be too easily manipulated and led astray. We see it in our ‘quick fix’ culture, every week a new fad to cure our ills. Diets multiply, miracle cures for this and that, bailouts and prop-ups; will it never end? It happens in the church as well. All the books on prayer, but no one seems to pray. We don’t study the spiritual disciplines anymore because we don’t want discipline, we want our individual freedoms. We want the power without the connection to the suffering.
The Corinthians were very much like us. They wanted God to work, but only if they were in control and they got the ‘best’ gifts. But God is the one who gives the gifts and abilities to whomever He chooses. Spiritual gifts are not on a buffet line. We don’t fill our plate with the ones we want. God instead uses us in a way that fits us and brings Him the glory. And all the gifts work for the benefit of everyone. No one can boast because they got a certain gift, since God is the one who gave it. We can put someone else down because they didn’t get a certain gift, because God gave the gifts, and the reason for the distribution is often beyond our understanding.
The body has a purpose, and in order for that purpose to be fulfilled, every part must do its job. Some parts are not so glamorous, and so we hide them. Some we want to show off. If you have a six pack stomach, you know what I mean. If you are like the rest of us, you keep it covered.
Some members of the church are going to be upfront kinds of ministries, but they are no more important than those behind the scenes. In fact, if the behind the scenes did not happen, it would all fall apart. Each part, no matter what that part is, must happen for the whole to function the way God intends. All members of the body are needed and important. And we must all learn to value each other in love.
We need to recognize the contributions of the other members of the body and value them as God values them. We need to deflate our own egos, and take our spot in the body, ready and willing to serve any and everywhere God is present. This is love in action.
The Arnold Journey 