Heal And Build The Body
Romans 12:6-8
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us whether prophecy let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith or ministry let us wait on our ministering or he that teacheth on teaching or he that exhorteth on exhortation he that giveth let him do it with simplicity he that ruleth with diligence he that sheweth mercy with cheerfulness.
Thought:
God has not given every believer the same gift. Yet every gift comes from the same grace and is guided by the same faith. Prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, ruling, and mercy are not competing roles. They are like different organs and systems in one body all needed and all important.
Prophecy declares God’s truth. Teaching explains it. Exhortation urges people to live it. Ministry quietly serves needs. Giving supplies what the body lacks. Ruling gives wise direction and structure. Mercy cares for the hurting with cheerful compassion. Together these gifts protect the church from becoming proud, cold, or confused.
When believers use their gifts, by grace and through faith, the body of Christ thrives. It grows in love, in holiness, and in unity. But when selfishness, bitterness, jealousy, or control rule in our hearts our gifts can become twisted. Then instead of building up we may tear down. This is what sometimes is described as spiritual cancer.
God in His mercy exposes what is wrong in order to heal. Sometimes He points to a specific sin like a beam of radiation. At other times He works more widely in our hearts like a cleansing chemotherapy treatment. In both cases His goal is to make the body healthy again. Our response is to surrender to His work, confess sin, and offer ourselves to Him afresh.
Prayer:
Father God, thank You for the many gifts You have placed in the body of Christ. Thank You that You use each one for the good of the whole church. Please show me clearly what gift or gifts You have given me and cleanse my heart from anything that misuses them. Remove pride, jealousy, bitterness, and selfish ambition from me. Use my life to heal and to build up Your people. Search me and cleanse me fully so that our church may be healthy and full of Your life. I ask this in Jesus name amen.
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us whether prophecy let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith or ministry let us wait on our ministering or he that teacheth on teaching or he that exhorteth on exhortation he that giveth let him do it with simplicity he that ruleth with diligence he that sheweth mercy with cheerfulness.
Thought:
God has not given every believer the same gift. Yet every gift comes from the same grace and is guided by the same faith. Prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, ruling, and mercy are not competing roles. They are like different organs and systems in one body all needed and all important.
Prophecy declares God’s truth. Teaching explains it. Exhortation urges people to live it. Ministry quietly serves needs. Giving supplies what the body lacks. Ruling gives wise direction and structure. Mercy cares for the hurting with cheerful compassion. Together these gifts protect the church from becoming proud, cold, or confused.
When believers use their gifts, by grace and through faith, the body of Christ thrives. It grows in love, in holiness, and in unity. But when selfishness, bitterness, jealousy, or control rule in our hearts our gifts can become twisted. Then instead of building up we may tear down. This is what sometimes is described as spiritual cancer.
God in His mercy exposes what is wrong in order to heal. Sometimes He points to a specific sin like a beam of radiation. At other times He works more widely in our hearts like a cleansing chemotherapy treatment. In both cases His goal is to make the body healthy again. Our response is to surrender to His work, confess sin, and offer ourselves to Him afresh.
Prayer:
Father God, thank You for the many gifts You have placed in the body of Christ. Thank You that You use each one for the good of the whole church. Please show me clearly what gift or gifts You have given me and cleanse my heart from anything that misuses them. Remove pride, jealousy, bitterness, and selfish ambition from me. Use my life to heal and to build up Your people. Search me and cleanse me fully so that our church may be healthy and full of Your life. I ask this in Jesus name amen.
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