Romans 12:5-8 - United in One, But Uniquely Different

Today, Thursday March 18 Romans 12:5-8 – United in One But Uniquely Different “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” After Paul pleads with us to present our bodies, our minds and our wills to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, he now gives us specific instructions on what this means in a very literal and practical sense. It is important to note that the first thing Paul says, in preparation for this, is that we are one in Christ Body, but we are uniquely different in the way we function and operate in His Church. At salvation, we were set free from the penalty and the burden and guilt of sin, but we are not free just to feel good about ourselves and life in general, we are set free to truly serve the Lord Jesus Christ through serving His Body, our fellow believers. To accomplish this, God has gifted us with the Holy Spirit. At the moment of our salvation, we received the “Gift” of the Holy Spirit Himself! The third person of the Holy Trinity immediately came into our body and soul to abide, to dwell, to live forever! Jesus promised this to His disciples in John 14 and 16. Also, at the moment of our salvation, the Holy Spirit gave each of us specific “Spiritual Gifts.” Here in Romans 12, Paul mentions seven of these gifts. I believe these seven gifts are the primary gifts and every believer has at least one of these. A Spiritual Gift is a God given ability to build up the body of Jesus Christ, His Church! I trust that right now you are exercising the wonderful gift that God has given to you, in your own local church! Could you imagine what would happen, if every believer knew and was exercising their spiritual gifts in their church. It begins with you, surrendering you heart and life to Jesus! God bless!