|
|
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Variety
I have long hair that I wear in a ponytail.
I wear jeans to work every day, pretty much.
Ditto on the Birkenstocks.
I enjoy punk rock music, and Mississippi Delta blues (acoustic--thank your Robert Johnson, and electric--thank you Muddy Waters).
I don't enjoy politics or believe government really changes hearts and minds.
I love stupid movies.
I think teenagers are highly enjoyable.
I could go on and on about who I am and what I like, but that's enough to give you a general picture.
And I'm different than everyone on our church staff...and they're different from me.
There are people who like Star Trek.
Some like to talk about, and be highly involved, in the political process.
Some like classical music, or bluegrass or jazz.
Some are highly disciplined and structured, others not so much.
Some like sports, others not so much.
Some are into excellent films (the fact they use the word "film" only highlights their interest in them).
Some don't like teenagers.
I could go on and on about hwo these people are and what they like, but that's enough to give you a general picture.
We're all different...with different interests and passions.
And I think three of us have the same spiritual gift...maybe even more. And I cannot tell you how much I think that's a good thing. And I think Paul thought it was a good thing, too, if I'm reading 1 Corinthians 12: 4--11 (from the Message):
"God's various gifts and handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God's spirit. God's various mnistries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. God's various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God Himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful:
wise counsel
clear understanding
simple trust
healing the sick
miraculous acts
proclamation
distinguishing between spirits
tongues
interpretation of tongues
All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what and when."
I love the phrase "Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits." When we get saved, we are all given a spiritual gift. The reason we have it is because we can show who God is to the world. And the Holy Spirit doles them out as He wishes, too.
What's cool is the Paul prefaced all that by saying that they'd all look different. There's a variety of gifts.
A variety of effects.
A variety of ministries.
Which is why people can have the same spiritual gift and apply it in different ways. For example, I think it's safe to say our senior pastor has the gift of teaching. I also think, at this point in my life, that's where my gift lies. It looks extremely different.
Our ministries are different.
The effects of our ministries are different.
And that's a grand and glorious thing that should be celebrated...because that's the case all over the world. And the Kingdom is beg enough for all of them.
So, for today, is there a ministry that makes you raise your eyebrows a little bit (I've got my own...like the people who run "Hellhouse 14"--one of those Christian "alternatives" to haunted houses)? How does this section of Scripture affect your thinking?
Brent 6:24 AM
|