Romans 12:3-8 (New Standard Revised Version)
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
4 For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function,
5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.
6 We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; 7 ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching;
8 the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.
Some Thoughts on Today’s Reading—Pastor Pam
Job descriptions can be daunting. Those looking for that perfect job can be overwhelmed by all the attributes and skills a position can require. Some job descriptions can seem like that “one-man band” character playing a variety of musical instruments.
The Apostle Paul describes a way of living in which the grace of God gives individuals unique gifts. Together, we become the body of Christ. Together we are transformed into something far greater than we were as individuals.
God gives each of us strengths and skills to live lives together in hope and fidelity to God. We are a diverse people and we were made that way for a purpose…to become and build the kingdom of God.
We can lose our way, or perhaps never find it, when we ignore the gifts God graces us with. We can live lives trying to be something else because someone told us to or we felt pressed in some way. Christ and Paul teach and compel us to seek lives in which our different strengths come together creating something new. I think of my mother’s lifelong love of making patchwork quilts that took pieces of our old clothes and turned them into new creations.
God gives us the attributes that make us the beautiful individuals we are and if we let God, we are woven together into shining kingdom fabric.
Peace and Grace,
Pastor Pam