3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,
5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;
7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;
8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” Romans 12:1-8.
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There are many different things we can do in Christian service, but we need to determine our gifts and God’s perfect will for us. We will not accomplish what is best if we settle for what is good.
We have a duty as fellow Christian brothers and sisters to encourage and help others discover their gifts. We need to be truthful, not just flatter and be nice.
When we discover our gifts and God’s perfect will for us, we need to decline those opportunities for merely good service, so that we can accomplish the best service. We need to realize that we will be tempted to accept the merely good, most often when we are praised. We need to say: “No, thank you.” and stay focused on our gifts and God’s perfect will for us. Notice the focus in today’s Scripture. “Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”
“For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,” Romans 12:4. An ear should not try to be an eye. A foot should not try to be a hand.
God is in total control, giving gifts and working all things in all persons, all for the common good. “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-7.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 