Today’s Bible Reading:
Proverbs 16-18; Romans 12
Journal Entry on a passage from today’s reading:
Topic: God-given Gifts
SCRIPTURE: Romans 12:4-8
4 Just as each
of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the
same function, 5 so in
Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the
others. 6 We have
different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is
prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching,
let him teach; 8 if it is
encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others,
let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it
is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. (Rom 12:4-8 NIV)
OBSERVATION:
The apostle Paul points out that individual believers in
Christ Jesus are each endowed with different gifts and different functions, but
together make up one body—the body of Christ. The seven gifts listed in this
passage are often referred to as motivational gifts. These are the gifts Father
God, our Creator endowed us with when He formed us—our inborn giftedness—our
personality traits and characteristics—what we were made by our Creator to be.
It is these gifts and/or unique mixture of these gifts that give us unique individual perspectives and motivation in
life and work.
APPLICATION:
God has not made us all the same. That’s okay. In fact
that’s good! Discovering your own unique giftedness is the first step in
realizing your own personal life’s calling from God. Also, when we understand
that other members of the Body of Christ are gifted differently than we are, we
can appreciate and benefit from the different perspectives they bring. In order
for the Body of Christ, His Church, to be complete and to function properly,
each member needs to be in the place the Creator has purposed them to be and
operating as He has gifted them to. We all need and benefit from each other.
PRAYER:
Thank You Lord for the realization you have given me of my
unique mix of motivational gifts. Thank You for helping me to understand that
part of my gifting is meant to help others discover their own gifting, and
fulfill the place You have created for them in Your body.
For our greatest fulfillment and Your glory in Christ. Amen. –AP
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