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.
Rom 12:4-5 (NLT)
In God’s community everyone gets to play. God loves us enough to make everyone important. He does this by giving everyone specific gifts and functions in the body of Christ. Regardless of our limitations, we are still valuable in the church. The desire to be productive is a basic God-given drive; God wants to fulfill this drive in everyone. We have a role that matters to God; something that makes him smile and satisfies our hearts.
This truth is a powerful tool for encouraging others. We see people come into our congregation who are new to Jesus, all beaten up by the world and wondering if they fit in. They feel completely inferior to whoever is up front. We can plant hope and encouragement in their heart by promising them that they are valuable and can be used by God. We can be God’s mouthpiece for communicating how much God wants to honor them and build them up. We can say, You have a gift and we look forward to what you will do! Thus, everyone in the congregation can be honored and join in the process of building each other up, and help bind us together as one.
Are the members of your congregation building each other up with their gifts? Does your congregation have an effective process for identifying and releasing giftings in new people?
