Larry Devich
Friday, January 19, 2007
January 19, 2007 - Friday in the Second Week after Epiphany
Today's Reading: Romans 12:6-16 (Historic); Ephesians 5:22-33
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” (Romans 12:6)
The church is a body composed of many diverse members. The church is a priesthood composed of variously gifted priests. As priests to God, anointed in Baptism, we are given to offer our bodies as “living sacrifices,” which are acceptable to God through the one Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. His is the one atoning sacrifice that takes away the sin of the world; ours are thank-offerings, sacrifices offered in gratitude for what He has done for us.
We each have different gifts, all of them out of God’s undeserved kindness toward us, without any merit or worthiness on our part. Some are given to preach, and in so doing, they are to preach according to the “analogy of the faith,” that is, they are to preach Jesus Christ crucified and risen for the salvation of the sinner.
Some are given to serve. Some to teach. Some to encourage others who need encouragement. Some to contribute to the needs of others. Some are given to lead. Some to works of mercy. These are all God’s gifts to His church, each belonging to the other.
Our problem is that we forget about Christ in the middle of the church, and tend to think of Christians instead. “I am the church, you are the church, we are the church together.” The church is, first and foremost, the Body of Christ. It is one Body, because it partakes of the one Bread (1 Corinthians 10:17). No one lives for himself or herself, because all have died and have their life in Jesus.
Our natural tendency is to be self-oriented. This is the outcome of sin that turns us inward to ourselves. We are more concerned about what we get from others than what we can give. Yet, gifts given are not gifts to be hoarded, but to be used in service to all, for we all belong to each other.
Consider this the next time you are in church. Look around you. Worship with peripheral vision – eyes focused on Jesus, yet with a view to your fellow believers who share the same Baptism and the same Body and Blood. We are bound together as members of one body. And in the one body, we are given gifts to give away as living sacrifices, thank-offerings to God.
No one can say that he or she is worthless and has no place. Your little toe may seem unimportant until you injure or lose it, and then you realize how difficult it is to walk without it. Let no baptized believer say, “I have no place in the church,” and let no member say, “I have no gifts to give.” The gifts flow down from Christ to you, and through you to your neighbor. This is holy and pleasing to God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. ¶ 1/19/2007 04:49:00 PM 0 Comments
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” (Romans 12:6)
The church is a body composed of many diverse members. The church is a priesthood composed of variously gifted priests. As priests to God, anointed in Baptism, we are given to offer our bodies as “living sacrifices,” which are acceptable to God through the one Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. His is the one atoning sacrifice that takes away the sin of the world; ours are thank-offerings, sacrifices offered in gratitude for what He has done for us.
We each have different gifts, all of them out of God’s undeserved kindness toward us, without any merit or worthiness on our part. Some are given to preach, and in so doing, they are to preach according to the “analogy of the faith,” that is, they are to preach Jesus Christ crucified and risen for the salvation of the sinner.
Some are given to serve. Some to teach. Some to encourage others who need encouragement. Some to contribute to the needs of others. Some are given to lead. Some to works of mercy. These are all God’s gifts to His church, each belonging to the other.
Our problem is that we forget about Christ in the middle of the church, and tend to think of Christians instead. “I am the church, you are the church, we are the church together.” The church is, first and foremost, the Body of Christ. It is one Body, because it partakes of the one Bread (1 Corinthians 10:17). No one lives for himself or herself, because all have died and have their life in Jesus.
Our natural tendency is to be self-oriented. This is the outcome of sin that turns us inward to ourselves. We are more concerned about what we get from others than what we can give. Yet, gifts given are not gifts to be hoarded, but to be used in service to all, for we all belong to each other.
Consider this the next time you are in church. Look around you. Worship with peripheral vision – eyes focused on Jesus, yet with a view to your fellow believers who share the same Baptism and the same Body and Blood. We are bound together as members of one body. And in the one body, we are given gifts to give away as living sacrifices, thank-offerings to God.
No one can say that he or she is worthless and has no place. Your little toe may seem unimportant until you injure or lose it, and then you realize how difficult it is to walk without it. Let no baptized believer say, “I have no place in the church,” and let no member say, “I have no gifts to give.” The gifts flow down from Christ to you, and through you to your neighbor. This is holy and pleasing to God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. ¶ 1/19/2007 04:49:00 PM 0 Comments
