May 06, 2020

Today’s reading Romans 12

Romans 12:4-8 KJV
[4] For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: [5] So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. [6] Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; [7] Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; [8] Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

We’re continuing to look at relationships from Romans 12. We’ve looked at our relationship with God and how that must be right before all other relationships. We’ve looked at our relationship with our immediate families, and how the strength of family relationships help strengthen our churches. Today we want to look at verses 4-8 and see that we all play a major part in the unity of our church. Paul says in verse 4 that all Christians have at least one spiritual gift, the body of Christ is made up of many members, he goes on to say that not only do we each have spiritual gifts but that those gifts are different for each individual Christian, we all have our certain jobs to do in the body of Christ. Verse 5 is interesting because it tells us that although our gifts are different they are meant to work together. Verse 6 emphasizes that the Christian must exercise their gift by grace through faith, meaning we may not always see the result of our work or gifts, but the Lord sees it and blesses our effort. Paul closes out by telling us that although gifts are different and they vary in different ways but no gift is more important than the next. Every gift is essential, and vital in the work of the body of Christ. Warren Wiersbe said it best “spiritual gifts are tools to build with not toys to play with or weapons to fight with. Paul wrote to the church of Corinth about this very thing, they were arguing and fighting about whose gift was more important. If we’re not careful we can get more caught up in comparing our gifts to everyone else’s instead of merging our gifts to accomplish what the body of Christ desires. If you’re not sure of your spiritual gift there are some fantastic spiritual gift tests you can take online. Just google spiritual gift test and take one. I encourage you to figure out your spiritual gift and then spend time working on that gift to be able to fulfill your duty in the body of Jesus Christ.

Frank Newsome