(Romans 12:3-8) For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Reminder:
"praying effectively" involves knowing God's will. When we pray in His will (in His name), He
may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like,
or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!
It is God's will:
- that all believers are one body in Christ (12:4-5)
- that we consider ourselves a member of the body of Christ (12:4-5)
- that we do not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think (12:3)
- that we have sound judgement, not comparing ourselves with others, or being critical; but when there are issues within the body, we are able to facilitate reconciliation (12:3)
- that we use our gifts to serve (12:6-8)
- that if we have the gift of prophecy, the amount of faith we have will determine the extent of what we say to encourage others, since all prophecy (now) is never to add to or take away from or alter God's words, but only to apply God's words with insight and wisdom (12:6)
- that if we have the gift of service, we need to be serving (whether it is being a parking attendant, greeter, usher, musician, artist, seamstress, administrator, coordinator, event planner, cook, custodian, tradesman...) (12:7)
- that if we have the gift of teaching, we should be teaching (12:7)
- that if we have the gift of exhortation, we need to be encouraging and challenging people (12:8)
- that if we have the gift of giving, then we should be giving much more, over and above our tithes (12:8)
- that if we have the gift of leading, then we need to do that with diligence; since we are guiding others, we need to be an example of responsibility, while mentoring, directing, and acting as overseer (12:8)
- that if we have the gift of showing mercy, then we need to do this cheerfully, knowing how to counsel and encourage others towards God's peace and joy (12:8)
Today's prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank You for Your love; and that when we become children of God, You have arranged for us to have an immediate and very large family, ready and waiting to embrace us and encourage us. Guide us in love, purity and unity so that fellowship is sweet. And when we face issues, as You know there will be, guide us towards humble reconciliation, with You and with each other.
Help all of us figure out what our gifts are. If there is something we love to do or there is something we are able to do - help us realize that that is probably our gift. Give us confidence to put that into practice and use it. Give us courage, knowing that we will probably make mistakes, but we can grow and learn from these. Help us realize when something is not our gift. May we not be prideful or discouraged, but encouraged to try something else.
Equip us with forgiveness and patience towards each other as we work together. Spur all of us on towards serving one another in order to serve and glorify Your name. Amen.
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