Do Your Part

'But God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.' (1 Cor.12:18) This scripture can sometimes be one that 'preaches easier than it lives' if you know what I mean. As people we have a tendency sometimes to desire what someone else has, even in a good way. We often look at someone else's gifts and desire that those were ours. Why can't I prophesy like him? Why can't I sing like that? I would love to dance like her. How come I don't have a healing ministry? Why can't I teach like that? The reality is that God through His great wisdom placed each of us right where we need to be in the body of Christ. Although some gifts are desireable to all of us, it's not promised that all of us would operate in them. Verses 27-31 of 1 Corinthians 12 explain this beautifully:

1Cr 12:27
Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
1Cr 12:28
And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers,

after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
1Cr 12:29
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?
1Cr 12:30
Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
1Cr 12:31
But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

Immediately after this, Paul goes into the famous 'love chapter' of the Bible (1 Cor. 13) where we are encouraged that above all things we should walk in love. This shows so clearly that Father God is concerned with us loving Him and loving others and that He would be the one to distribute gifts as He sees fit. Jesus even said that the two great commandments were loving God and loving your neighbor (Matt. 22:35-40). Consider this and never let yourself feel like you are less than someone else who seems more gifted; you are loved and complete in Christ (Col. 2:9-10). He has called you, He has established you, and He has placed you right where He wants you so long as you obey His word. Trust in Him to fulfill your purpose and release every gift and talent that He has ordained for you to walk in.

So the next time you're tempted to desire to be who someone else is, remember, He's simply called you to do your part.

Let the Word Dwell in You

In Colossians Chapter 3:16-17 we receive a great challenge from the Apostle Paul. As he gives some of the framework for how we should live as believers he inserts the 'meat and potatoes', so to speak, of how we live victoriously and advance God's Kingdom: 'Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom ...' Simply stated yet profound in it's significance. We are called as believers not to simply know some of God's word here and there. Not to just know our favorite verse or 'bless me' scripture. Not to look to the word of God only when it's convenient. We are called to be so intimately tied to it that it dwells in us richly. One of the dictionary definitions of richly is 'in full measure.' What a beautiful way to describe our call to the word of God. It must be in us in full measure. Not in part, but in it's totality. Christ doesn't just come into our lives to hang out a little, but to abide in us always as we abide in Him. He doesn't come in part, He brings all of who He is and if we are to receive all of who He is, we must receive His word. When this happens there will be great wisdom, knowledge, understanding and whatever pertains to life and godliness flowing in and through us (2 Pet. 1:3). We will teach one another, encourage one another, worship the Father in unity and do all that we do in the name of Jesus so that God would be glorified (Col. 3:16-17).

So as time passes and distractions come. As you have good days and bad. As you press forward in what God has called you to do and to be, remember that we must allow the word of Christ to dwell in us richly.