![]() Click Logo to LISTEN NOW! 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 12-14, 18-20 There are different kinds of gifts,
but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of
service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working,
but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Just as a body, though one, has
many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether
Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. But in fact God has
placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is,
there are many parts, but one body. Greetings! BlogFam, have you ever witnessed the ostracizing of
anyone? Sometimes for the most immature
and selfish reasons men and women, boys and girls are left out of the game, the
clique, the crowd, and the crew. Those
who are left out have been intentionally ignored, rejected, and abandoned
because in that moment somebody does not want them around. Have you ever felt this way? I know you made it pass that moment and you
are fine now or maybe it just recently happened to you and you are struggling
to deal with it, either way, this does not feel good. This blatant disregard for your presence and what
you might bring to the table is not a boost to our self-esteem. In fact, so many may have moved on but I can
just about guarantee you that there are many more who carry the emotional
wounds of being left out – kicked out – cussed out – walked out on – and that
moment in time hindered their ability, their confidence, and their motivation to
move out of that dark place. For deep down,
even if they verbalize a nonchalant attitude on this matter, the TRUTH is that people
want to fit in! EVERYBODY wants to fit
in somewhere. EVERYBODY wants to feel
that they are a part of something.
EVERYBODY wants to have a place, a part, or a position in something or
at least in the heart of someone special. Therefore, today, I simply want to encourage you so
that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that in the great plans of the ALMIGHTY
CREATOR, YOU were not an afterthought!
YOU were on the forefront of the Creator’s mind when you were formed in
your mother’s womb and YOU have a special place in the heart of our God. We all have a special place in God and we all can serve
in a special way. Friends, the body of
Christ NEEDS You. We NEED exactly what you
can offer and we NEED it today. Actually,
what any of us can offer to the Body of Christ is essential to the building up
of the Kingdom of God! And when we
refuse to serve our family or in our church or out in the community, we are
being selfishly ungrateful and in essence, making it clear that the one who
created you does not fit into our lives. My sistas and brothas, as we come to the end of our 40
days of fasting, today is a great day for you to ask the Lord, how you fit into
the body of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 12,
Paul outlines a number of spiritual gifts.
I do not think that this is an exhaustive list but the main point of
this chapter is what is most important to me in our moments together. He basically says YOU were designed to FIT IN
right here in the Body of Christ! This
is an important revelation for some of you because the TRUTH is that the first
place you FIT IN was in God’s family and that is the most important family to
be a part of even above your earthly family. Paul says we must understand that: There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.
There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are
different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same
God at work. We were created to be
different from one another. We were not
created to be exactly the same and that is OK because God is at work in and
through ALL of us. Furthermore, Just as a body, though one,
has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether
Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. In other words, we are many, and we are one at the same
time. All who believe and have been
baptized as a symbol of their spiritual kinship, have received the same Spirit
which unites us to make us one body. In fact God has placed
the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is,
there are many parts, but one body. And God knew exactly how we were all supposed to FIT IN. God wisely placed in us what would be needed for the Body of Christ to
function in healthy, progressive, and self-sustaining ways in this world. There is no need for any of us to want to be
like someone else or to have the gifts of someone else. We were created to be different and to serve
as one. BlogFam, you were created with a place to FIT IN. I know that you may have been looking for
your place but while you are searching, PLEASE do not overlook the FIRST place
of all places that you were designed to FIT IN – the Body of Christ. You were created to FIT IN the Kingdom of God
and no one else can take your place! Therefore, today, I pray that you would embrace the gift
of diversity in the body of Christ. I pray
that you would not criticize or ostracize your fellow sistas and brothas who
desire to serve. I pray that you would
ask God about the place where God would have for you to serve. I pray that our God would create
opportunities just for you. I pray that
you would never forget that you FIT IN the Body of Christ and your place herein
was especially designed with you in mind by our Creator. And I pray that you would serve in the place
where you FIT IN with joy and encourage others to do the same! Delesslyn Twitter - @AudraSunshine or @SpiritedConcept Email - delesslyn@spiritedconcepts.net ***MY FIRST BOOK*** Step Out of the Boat: An Invitation to Walk on Water Click on Picture of Cover to Purchase TODAY!!! THANK YOU for your support!!! PLEASE SUBSCRIBE on the left to get email updates,SHARE it with three people, COMMENT below, and click here to GIVE a donation of $5.00 or your best gift to keep it going! I WRITE by Faith and NOT by Sight... |