IF YOU'RE NOT SURE OF YOUR PART

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Romans 12:6-8




I heard about a junior high music teacher who had just organized a band in her school. The principal was so proud of the music teacher's efforts that without consulting her he decided that the band should give a concert for the entire school. The music teacher wasn't so sure her young musicians were ready to give a concert, so she tried to talk the principal out of holding the concert, to no avail.

Just before the concert was ready to begin, as the music teacher stood on the podium, she leaned forward and whispered to her nervous musicians, "If you're not sure of your part, just pretend to play."

And with that, she stepped back, lifted her baton and with a great flourish brought it down. Lo and behold, nothing happened! The band brought forth a resounding silence.

I can't help but wonder if we have the same problem in the church at times. Christians may have the idea that since they're unsure of the part that they are to play, they'll just sit and pretend.  The problem is, when everyone is unsure of what part they're supposed to play, the result is silence --  nothing gets done.

What is the solution?  The solution is helping each and every member of the body of Christ to learn their part.  In I Corinthians 12 and Romans 12, Paul pictures the church as a body with all of the different parts of that body having different functions.


"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them..." (Romans 12:6).

I can't do everything, and I certainly can't do everything well.  But that's OK.  The saxophonist in an orchestra isn't expected to know how to play the drums.  His talent is playing the saxophone.  His job is simply to make use of his talent and do the very best that he can.

Learn what your gift is, and then use it to the glory of God.  Paul offers a list of possibilities.  Maybe your gift is speaking, or serving, or encouraging, or giving, or leading, or showing mercy (Rom. 12:6-8).

Perhaps your gift is on that list, perhaps it's one of the other gifts.  But, if you're not sure of your part, please don't sit and pretend to play. Find out what your gift is and then use that gift to the glory of God!
 
 
Steve Blair
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Watch this short message from Our Daily Bread on Romans 12:6-8.


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