Ephesians 4:7, 11-13
However, Christ has given each of us special abilities—whatever he wants us to have out of his rich storehouse of gifts.
Some
of us have been given special ability as apostles; to others he has
given the gift of being able to preach well; some have special ability
in winning people to Christ, helping them to trust him as their Savior;
still others have a gift for caring for God’s people as a shepherd does
his sheep, leading and teaching them in the ways of God.
Why is
it that he gives us these special abilities to do certain things best?
It is that God’s people will be equipped to do better work for him,
building up the Church, the body of Christ, to a position of strength
and maturity; until finally we all believe alike about our salvation and
about our Savior, God’s Son, and all become full-grown in the Lord—yes,
to the point of being filled full with Christ.
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
In recent days, a video
appeared on Facebook of a group of school-aged children who were
standing against the wall of a light-colored brick building. Someone
opened the spray nozzle on a water hose and totally soaked the children
as they stood completely still against the wall. When everyone moved
away from the wall, the outline of their little bodies remained…in a
variety of poses and positions that were perfectly captured as they
“froze” in place for this soaking.
You could almost “see” their
little personalities coming through…imagine what sort of child stood
where. Each was unique - and precious. You could also get a sense for
the group at large. The individuals made up a collective story…and it
was momentarily told on a wall of wet bricks.
I thought of this
video as I read these verses from Ephesians 4. We are all unique and
precious to God. He thinks enough of each of us to give us special
gifts…to entrust us with skills and abilities that will in some way
further His Kingdom. As the scripture points out, God does this to
build up His church. He knows that when we all “stand against the wall
together,” we make a unified picture of what it means to become
“full-grown in the Lord.”
If God were to line you up along a wall
with a group of your friends and family members and douse you, what
sort of image would emerge? What would others see…particularly
un-believers? Would the love of Jesus Christ shine through? Would
onlookers find an encourager…preacher…confidante…shepherd…leader and
teacher among those outlines? Would there be prayer
warriors…behind-the-scenes “worker bees”…and healers in the mix? Would
the spirit of grace, mercy, forgiveness, hope, peace and promise be
evident? Would each person be using his/her God-given gifts in the best
possible manner…including you?
God has given each of us gifts
that equip us to fulfill our role in His earthly mission. It is up to
you to figure out where you excel…and what God wants you to do.
How are well are you managing your gifts these days? If you moved away
from God’s “wall,” what would your lingering outline tell others about
your relationship with Him? Isn’t it time you knew?
©2016 Debbie Robus
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