Operate In Our Gifts

This morning I am reading through some of Paul's letter to the Romans, which is such an excellent letter. Here were the verses that I am thinking about this morning: Romans 12:1-8 NIV

[1] "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. [2] "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.

[3] For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. [4] For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, [5] so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. [6] 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; [7] if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; [8] 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."

So often when I read scripture, I look for the quotes I know, and look past the verses on either side of those verses, and in doing so, can often miss some of what the author was actually saying. These verses are a great example, as we would not usually hear a sermon that combines the first verses with the second set of verses. However, I think that the second set of verses flow out of the context of what Paul was saying in the first paragraph.

The pattern of the world seems to be the focus to me, and Paul's urging us to not he conformed to it, but to be different. We are to be transformed by changing the way we think (renewal of the mind). We are to view ourselves as a part of the Body of Christ, not only as individuals. We are to see our place, understand our gifts, and use them for the betterment of the Body. We all belong to each other.

That statement alone should cause us to stop and think...I belong to everyone in the Body of Christ. The original Greek language says it something like this - we are all members recipricolly of the same body. There is a sense of equality, of sharing in as a part, but no one better than the other, and all needed to be whole.

I love how in these passages Paul is not setting one gift above the others, but encouraging those with gifts (all of us) to use them to better the community. We need each and every one, and we need them all being exercised. We are called to operate to the level of our faith, and in stating this Paul doesn't look down on those with less faith, he just says to operate in accordance with Your faith, but definitely operate the gifts.

Often in our churches we are encouraged to have a certain level of proficiency before stepping out and using our gifts. While this might maintain a professional look and feel, that isn't what Paul calls us to here. He is basically saying that everyone regardless of their level of faith or maturity needs to be operating in their gifts. I recognize that this could get messy, but without exercise how are we to grow stronger, or mature?

So let us be encouraged today to step out into our fittings, into those things the Lord has planted in us, and let us strengthen the body. Let us give each other mercy and grace and recognize we all need each other and all belong to each other. Let us encourage one another is the exercising of our gifts, and rejoice in growth and maturity, but also rejoice in new Christians just learning to walk in and use their gifts! Put another way, we should rejoice over and encourage the one just learning to ride a bike as much as we do over someone who participates in the Tour de France. Let us encourage one another to operate in our gifts!