Different Part 4

Different - Making the most of our differences (Part 4) Every person is created different, ON purpose FOR a purpose. God intentionally created us different to fulfill a specific PURPOSE, ROLE, and FUNCTION in the home, society, and Kingdom of God. Romans 12:4-8 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. God wants us to VALUE who He made us and others to be. We are to COMPLEMENT not COMPETE with each other. Every gift has a unique function and CONTRIBUTION. Different implies VARIETY in how it performs and what it offers. 1Peter 4:10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. God made us INTERDEPENDENT. Every gift has its LIMITATIONS, its strengths and weaknesses, and we need every gift to cover and carry. We are to be FAITHFUL managers of the gift God made us. For life to go well and right, we must function within the parameters of God’s DESIGN and STRUCTURE in relationships; MARRIAGE (Genesis 2:23-25, 3:16; 1Corinthians 11:3, 11-12; Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:18-19; 1Peter 3:1-7), FAMILY (Matthew 15:3-6; Ephesians 6:1-4; Colossians 3:20-21), SOCIETY (Mark 12:31; Romans 12:13-18; 1Timothy 5:1-3; James 2:1, 8; 1Peter 3:9), EMPLOYMENT (Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:22-25; 1Peter 2:18-21), SPIRITUAL Leadership (1Timothy 5:17-20; Hebrews 13:17; 1Peter 5:1-5), government LEADERSHIP (Romans 13:1-5; 1Peter 2:13-17), Even our ENEMIES (Matthew 5:43-48; Romans 12:19-21). When you abandon or abdicate who God made you to be, you introduce CHAOS, BROKENNESS, and PAIN. With REPENTANCE, God is in the business of HEALING and RESTORING right relationships. Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”