SEPTEMBER 7

Are You All There?

Romans 12:3-8

EVERYONE HAS A GOD-GIVEN niche that makes him or her unique. Paul uses the metaphor of the body —each one of us representing a separate part. One is the head, another is a hand, still another is the toe! The point is, we all need each other to make the body work.

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

ROMANS 12:3-8

Feeling like a left foot or a sore thumb, or maybe like an insignificant pituitary gland —always taking the backseat to the mighty liver? God made you just as you are to serve His body perfectly —no matter your size, giftedness, or function. Stop comparing. Stop complaining. Celebrate, for a change, the uniqueness of being you. Find your place in the body and be all there for the glory of God. Honestly now . . . are you “all there”?