Romans 12:6-8
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
We may all be familiar with this chapter. Chapter 12 highlights how a true Christian must live and every verse instructs us to live according to the will of God. Verses 1 and 2 summarise the whole chapter:- Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.
In the church, we see how apostle Paul pointed out (as per abovementioned verses) that each one has his own gift and an individual must use it accordingly for the furtherance of His glory. We can use an analogy to compare the church with a human body as in 1 Corinthians 12. Jesus Christ is the head as He is the Head of the Church and each one distributed as the eye or mouth or hand or foot working their own function, that is to say, one can preach, the other can teach or one can simply serve his fellow brothers and sisters. Whatever it is, the Lord does not favour one over the other.
As 1 Corinthians 12:22-25 says:
On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
What a great encouragement is this for us! Have you ever felt unimportant or small in an assembly before? Have you ever wished that you could preach or teach or lead praise and worship? Worry not for God has given you a gift that is different from any one else that is vital for the church just as essential as a preacher or a teacher or a worship leader.
Always remember that with God, there is no partiality.
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