A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (June 29, 2017)
For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him. (Romans 12:3, AMPC Bible)
The Body of Christ is not a modern day corporation where all the power is concentrated in a few members at the top. Every member is critically important in the Body of Christ. The eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee (1 Cor. 12:21). We are jointly fit together by God to edify, assist, and love each other.
What we have witnessed over the years is that the world’s methods have sometimes infiltrated the Body of Christ without us even recognizing it. People are working their way up the corporate ladder looking for a position of authority without a clear understanding of the gifts and callings that God has ordained. The following is a very brief summary of the three legs of the gifts and callings of God that are assigned and distributed by the Holy Spirit:
| Motivational Gifts (Romans 12) | Manifestation Gifts (1 Cor. 12) | Vocational Callings (Eph. 4) |
| Prophecy (perceiver, reveals truth) | Word of wisdom | Apostle |
| Ministry (server, helps) | Word of knowledge | Prophet |
| Teaching | Faith | Evangelist |
| Exhorting | Healing | Pastor |
| Giving | Miracles | Teacher |
| Ruling (administrator, organizer) | Prophecy | |
| Mercy (compassion, caring) | Discerning of Spirits | |
| Divers kinds of tongues | ||
| Interpretation of tongues |
The problem comes in sometimes when we jump straight to the vocational callings and skip the gifts. The first thing you should ask yourself is this. What motivates me? What brings me to tears? For example, a person with the gift of mercy will often end up in a secular position that requires that gift such as a nurse or a doctor. They may not even know that God actually placed that gift in them.
A person with the motivational gift of prophecy is a stickler for details and for things to be done right and in order. Many times these people will be in secular positions that require those gifts like accounting or law.
All these motivational gifts are needed in the Body of Christ. Everyone is not called to one of the vocational ministries but everyone in the Body of Christ has gifts that are very important and needed. In fact, the scripture tells us just the opposite from what we would normally think when ranking these gifts and callings.
For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked. That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. (1 Cor. 12:14-25)
What is your place in the Body? What motivates you? Just remember, you don’t need a title to be a servant!
