Romans 12:3-8

 Scripture Verse

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

We share our gifts because we belong to each other.

Paul reminds us here not to “think of yourself more highly”. Where does one think too much of oneself? It’s so easy in our world of individualism today. I, I, I, me, me, me first, but that is not what God’s Word (“the faith God has distributed”) says. Christ is our example: “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8).

Paul adds, “in Christ”, “each member belongs to all the others”. What does it mean to belong to all the others? If something “belongs to” one, one owns it. It is his/hers. Like a gift. A precious gift: “rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him” (1 Peter 2:4). The brother/sister in Christ is a precious gift to you and you are a precious gift to him/her. How may one be a precious gift?

Maybe when Paul speaks about each having given, in grace, a gift or gifts to share. How does one go about it? Generously, diligently and cheerfully! It definitely is not always easy. Especially with the brother/sister that can be a real challenge sometimes… How does one manage this? “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23).

For “belongs to” also means: to be included/part of something. Part of “one body”. Part of our Lord Jesus Christ (“Now you are the body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:27) and part of our Lord God (“you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.” (1 Corinthians 3:23).

Prayer:

Dear gracious God, thank you for your Word and for Christ. Please show me with which precious gift of a brother/sister, I may share my, in grace, given gift today. Amen.