Tag: Unity series

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About Our Spiritual Gifts

The NFL draft starts tomorrow. For months, pro football coaches and general managers have been assessing college players’ athletic abilities and character traits with an eye toward strengthening team weaknesses. Some teams need a quick-thinking quarterback with pinpoint accuracy. Some seek linemen — behemoths with both the heft to open a running lane and the agility to drop back into pass protection. Others lack defensive backs who can go stride for stride against receivers with world class speed. The meat market shopping list goes on, each position demanding its own attributes. We gawk at these individual athletes, but winning depends on team unity, the resolve of each to commit to the whole.

So it is with the body of Christ: “A spiritual gift is given to each of us,”1 and “It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.”2 Then each believer’s individual giftedness leads to a collective diversity among us, some of us spiritually graced with wisdom, others teaching, others mercy — a host of spiritual manifestations bestowed among believers in Christ Jesus. Yet diversity in the body of Christ must not lead to division amid it. Paul uses an anatomical analogy: “There are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you.’ The head can’t say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you.’”3 (And no quarterback in his right mind would ever tell his blindside tackle, “I don’t need you.”) Yes, there is diversity in Christ, but never unto division.  

Nor may our unity in Christ translate into conformity among us. Paul writes: “If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?”4 (If the entire offense were wide receivers lined up to sprint downfield, who would ever snap the ball to begin the play?) “But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.”5

So now what? Peter speaks: “Use [your spiritual gifts] well to serve one another. Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies.”6 Is teaching truly your gift? Then guide the church in the full Word of God. Is it hospitality? Then welcome others with honor into your peaceful oasis of rest. If you are a gifted administrator, leaders need you to bring order to their visionary chaos. Then as we serve each other through our gifts, Peter promises this: “Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ.”7 Isn’t this what we want? Isn’t this our purpose?

(And doesn’t the NFL draft feel a little smaller now?)

Father, thank You not only for including us in Your plan, but also for gifting each one of us for our part in it. May we devote ourselves entirely to Your Kingdom call. In Christ we pray. Amen.

1 1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT, emphasis added
2 1 Corinthians 12:11 NLT, emphasis added
3 1 Corinthians 12:20-21 NLT
4 1 Corinthians 12:17 NLT  
5 1 Corinthians 12:18 NLT
6 1 Peter 4:10-11 NLT
7 1 Peter 4:11 NLT)

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Fan the Flame Within

It was a cringe-worthy moment, for sure. God had chosen Saul to be Israel’s king, saying to the prophet Samuel, “This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people.”1 When it came time to introduce the sovereign to his subjects, however, Saul “was not to be found.”2 They inquired of the Lord as to Saul’s whereabouts, to which God replied, “He has hidden himself among the supplies.”3 So the people “ran and brought him out.”4 Talk about an inauspicious beginning! The man was anointed to lead, but he chose instead to hide.

The Bible teaches us “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts”5 and they are “given to each of us so we can help each other.”6 The Spirit is “the source of them all,”7 and “He alone decides which gift each person should have.”8 Leadership is one such gift,9 and there are a host of others — teaching, helps, encouragement, and evangelism, to name a few.10 So, again, we all have at least one spiritual gift, the Spirit apportions them just as He chooses, and by them we help each other. Some of us know our spiritual gifts, and for those who do not, there are various resources to help you discover them, including your fellow believers who are closest to you.11

Then regardless of what gifts we have been given, Peter exhorts us to use them. “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another.”12 Now, it is easy to forget about the gifts imparted to us or to neglect them, leaving us less effective in Kingdom work, so twice the apostle Paul redirected his young protégée Timothy back to his spiritual gifts: “fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you,”13 and again, “Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received.”14

What might it look like when we all operate in the power of our spiritual gifts? Paul gives us a glimpse: “If God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”15 Imagine the impact when each of us “fans into flames the gifts God has given us.”

So let’s not neglect our gifts or hide from serving in them. Instead, may we discover them, remember them, stir them up, and use them boldly. Today.

Father, send Your Spirit to reveal the gifts given to each of us, and lead us to serve boldly in Your power wherever You direct us today. Be glorified in your Church. In Christ we pray. Amen.

1 1 Samuel 9:17 NIV
2 1 Samuel 10:21 NIV
3 1 Samuel 10:22 NIV
4 1 Samuel 10:23 NIV
5 1 Corinthians 12:4 NLT
6 1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT
7 1 Corinthains 12:4 NLT
8 1 Corinthians 12:11 NLT
9 Romans 12:8
10 Note: To develop a list of spiritual gifts, see 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 1 Corinthians 12:28, Romans 12:6-8, Ephesians 4:11, and 1 Peter 4:9-10.
11 Note: “Discover Your Spiritual Gifts the Network Way” by Bruce Bugbee is an example of a spiritual gifting discovery resource.
12 1 Peter 4:10-11 ESV
13 2 Timothy 1:5-7 ESV
14 1 Timothy 4:14 NLT
15 Romans 12:6-8 NLT

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Our Unity, God’s Glory

Jesus’ disciples were just like us in many ways, and curiosity about the end times was one of them. So over two entire chapters in Matthew’s historic account, Jesus told them what to expect, including this verbal exchange, which will happen at the appointed time.

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” — Matthew 25:37-40 NIV

Did you notice? Jesus did not say serving others will be “as if” we were serving Him; rather, “whatever you did for [others], you did for me.” This declares a oneness beyond closeness. It expresses, as well, a divine desire fulfilled, for Jesus petitioned to the Father that we would be restored to unity with Himself — “that I myself may be in them,”1 — and with each other, as well: “that they may be one as we are one.”2 Relational restoration glorifies God: It declares His power and love. So, in our remaining space today, let’s absorb three Scriptures and let them guide us as one in the glory of God.

“I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth — everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” — Isaiah 43:6-7 NIV God calls forth from around the globe one body of believers, with Christ as its head, to fulfill His purpose for us: to glorify God.

“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” — Romans 15:5-6 ESV In mutual submission to each other and collective submission to Christ, we glorify God in common confession.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. . . Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5:14-16 NIV Our obedience to God stirs others to glorify Him.

Why unity? God’s glory.

 “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.”3 Amen.

1 John 17:26 NIV
2 John 17:22 NIV
3 1 Chronicles 29:11 ESV