The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse reading–1 Corinthians 12:4-13, 27-31 (day five)

11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.

It is the brilliance and distinctiveness of God’s plan to use the church for His Glory and Purpose of building His Kingdom. God calls and gifts “each” of us and then works in “all” of us to build unity and effectiveness. One of God’s goals for the christian life is for each gifted believer to demonstrate that they have the Spirit of God within them. According to Paul, this is clearly evidenced in the Body of Christ.

In this passage has all the ingredients: sovereignty (11,18,24), diversity (4,5,6) and unity (11,12,13). It is a clear picture of a beautiful, vibrant New Testament Church.

Re:Verse reading–1 Corinthians 12:4-13, 27-31 (day four) 

One Spirit, many gifts.  Why has God given us all of these gifts?  Wisdom, knowledge, faith, healings, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and interpretation…God has placed all of these gifts in the body.  Are they for our own edification?  For our own pleasure?  For our own benefit?  No…they are for the benefit and edification of the whole church.  We are to use our gifts to serve others.  For a healthy church, you will see the members serving one another with tireless and self-less energy, using their God–given gifts to serve the body.

What gifts has God given you?  How has He equipped you to serve others?  Are you using your gifts to glorify God or to gain benefit for yourself?  Ask God to search your heart.  A healthy church is a serving church…serve others with your Spiritual gifts!  (1 Corinthians 13 tells us to use the right motivation for serving, too.)  Let’s grow our church!

Re:Verse reading–1 Corinthians 12:4-13, 27-31 (day three)

“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”

Paul’s purpose here is not to identify the Prophet! Teacher! Leader!  Rather, his point is that the church is a terrible place for heroics.  You want the prophecy gift?  Here it is: Prophecy means serving by never leaving somebody without God’s voice when that person has lost his way.  You want the leadership gift?  Here it goes: Leadership means channeling your influence to craft the kind of life together that allows people to grow to the full extent of their giftedness.  You want the guidance gift?  Here you are: Guidance means that you’ll never leave someone without forgiveness and friendship when that person has blown it again.  Gifts aren’t given in addition to love, but in order to love.

Re:Verse reading–1 Corinthians 12:4-13, 27-31 (day two)

And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” vs. 21

In all my years of being in choirs I have never led a group, nor been in a group where there were too many tenors. We are a commodity. As it is most groups make do with the ensemble that they get. This is the nature of the volunteer organization. If, however, one day 20 new tenors showed up to rehearsal, I doubt you would hear the altos leave in protest. Choirs don’t work that way. When you are in a choral group you submit to the concept that it takes more than one to make music. It is necessary to have different voices with different ranges to be able to create the music.

What is the message? Show up to choir and discover how to live out this scripture! Or, perhaps, marvel at the gifts God has given you, and submit his kingdom work. You will undoubtedly find how other gifting will complement yours, and you will see the music of God’s plan.

Re:Verse reading–1 Corinthians 12:4-13, 27-31 (day one)

“For even as the (human) body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the (human body), though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.”–v 12

It was, for many years, the official motto of the United States.  (In 1956, Congress passed a resolution making, “In God We Trust” the official motto)  Even so, this powerful Latin phrase stands on our national seal and currency.  It means, “from many, one!”

It is wisdom learned from Christ and His church.  If the church is the body of Christ (v 27), we are the means by which He continues to act in a physical world.  He is the Head.  He makes the decisions and plans.  We carry them out.

We are a diverse group.  Race.  Ethnicity.  Age.  Background.  Gifts.  Social and Economic standing.  But, by the work Spirit of God we have become One!  One life.  One Lord.  One Destiny!

Re:Verse reading–Matthew 25:31-46 (day seven).

He is the prof who tells in advance what the final exam will be.  No mystery.  Only one question.  “Are you in right relationship to the Christ?”

Some people read this story and conclude that Jesus was teaching us to be charitable, and that charity, in and of itself, is a way to be saved.  I think they are mistaken.

“By grace through faith”, says the Scripture, declaring clearly the way of eternal life.  A careful reading of this story reveals that it is not so much the charity done (hungry fed, naked clothed etc.) as the relationship with Christ that these deeds indicated.  “I was hungry and you gave ME food” says the Lord.  Faith in Christ is the inward reality.  Charity is the outward expression.

Deeds, even charitable ones, can never substitute for faith.  They can, however, prove it is present with saving power.

Are you ready for your final exam?

Re:Verse Passage – Matthew 25:31-46 (day five) 

We read about this promise throughout scripture. God would send a Messiah and King to save the world. The problem was, that what God had in mind for a King and what many people expected were completely different. The King God sent would be humble, meek, and vulnerable. God’s plan was prophesied over and over in the Old Testament. Yet, many missed it. The religious leaders were looking for royalty, arrogance, and a leader who would overthrow political and social structures and systems.

What Jesus describes in Matthew 25 is something completely different. Knowing and loving Jesus changes the human heart. Believers do understand the majesty, kindness, and power of Christ. They also begin to see the needs of others and serve them. Does our relationship with Christ cause us to see Him and others in ways that bring honor and glory to Him (The King)?

Re:Verse Passage – Matthew 25:31-46 (day four)

Scripture told us it would happen.  Jesus will return in all of His glory.  He was despised and rejected by men, but He will return as King and Judge.  Those that receive His favor are those that have served others.  Notice that they did not even know when they had done it.  Serving was a natural outgrowth of their love.  They served, as a matter of course, those who were in need.  The selfish group, the unrighteous, had been so self-consumed, they did not even see the needy.

We often get so busy and so self-absorbed, that we fail to see those around us in need.  Ask God to open the eyes of your heart to see and act in compassion.  When you are in a love relationship with the Lord, you will not only see the needy, you will serve them.  Draw near to Him…the Lord’s pleasure is on those who serve.  (P.S. – Is there anything else in Scripture that you have not paid attention to?)

Re:Verse Passage – Matthew 25:31-46 (day three)

“Lord, when did we see you hungry?”  Are you sure you want to know?  It’s not uncommon for us to attempt to exonerate ourselves from the charges by claiming we’re misunderstood.  From “out came this calf” to “mistakes were made” to “wide stance” to “no one told me”, these ridiculous excuses for indefensible behavior will never hold up.  We’ve all tried to claim that we’re just doing the best we can when really we’ve just been doing the best imitation we can.  If only God had been clearer, if only he’d spoken our language, we would have jumped at the chance to serve.  It’s too bad God didn’t see that we were just waiting for direction.  Is it our fault that God missed the opportunity of a lifetime: a chance to work with us?

Re:Verse reading–Matthew 25:31-46 (day two).  The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’  vs. 40

Last week 31 students and adults traveled to Kansas City, Missouri for the Chapel Singer Mission Choir Tour. In addition to our concerts we served three different non-profit groups whose focus was on the homeless and poor. I became convicted when I read this scripture this morning as I considered what Jesus meant when he said ‘least.’ In some way I have always thought that mean ‘less.’ I have come to understand, however, that this is not what Jesus intended at all. Having the least shelter, having the least clothing, having the least health – these deal with needs not character, and certainly not the heart. I am grateful for the reminder this week that our care for each other is of utmost concern to Jesus.