Well-Oiled Machine
If you would have told me as a child that I would end up like my parents watching journalists interviewing people and being captivated by people’s history, positions, and stances in life, I would have said, there is no way. Yet, here I am.
I was recently watching an amazing interview between a reporter and a public official in which the reporter, who admired the giftings in this individual, asked, “Being the youngest female that has ever held this position, how do you do this with such excellence? How do you confidently declare facts and your heart through public speaking with very few notes?” Her response: “I believe God gives us all different gifts in life. What I do and how I serve the people is only a gift from him.”
I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 12:12-27:
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages. Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.
In my workplace, I am surrounded by beautifully talented people with different strengths and giftings. Without them, I really can say my area of focus would be a flop. Each gifting they possess helps complete the vision given to leaders in excellence. The vision would not be complete with the work of one person and is dependent on the gifts of many.
The public speaker mentioned in the introduction could not perform her job without a leader to cast a vision. That vision would not be communicated without cameras and microphones, which, in turn, depend on the skills of those operating them. Each person involved has a specific role, and if even one person is missing, the mission remains incomplete.
In a world where people are encouraged to focus on themselves, God’s Kingdom encourages our attention to be focussed on others. Life isn’t about me, but it’s about “we.” Life was never meant to be done alone, but together. And together, our gifts run like a well-oiled machine, producing much fruit to change the world we live in. We are better together!
PRAYER:
Thank You, God, that You have uniquely gifted me for such a time as this. I pray that You would surround me with the people I need and the people that need me. I realize that life isn’t about me, but it’s about how the community I am a part of works together for the vision You’ve given Your church. Use me, guide me, and mold me into everything You desire me to be. Give me a heart to lean into others strengths and giftings to learn and glean from. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear You. Help me realize that life isn’t about me, but it’s about You and others. I thank You for revealing Your heart to me, and I thank You that I have the privilege of dwelling in Your house forever. Amen
I was recently watching an amazing interview between a reporter and a public official in which the reporter, who admired the giftings in this individual, asked, “Being the youngest female that has ever held this position, how do you do this with such excellence? How do you confidently declare facts and your heart through public speaking with very few notes?” Her response: “I believe God gives us all different gifts in life. What I do and how I serve the people is only a gift from him.”
I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 12:12-27:
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages. Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.
In my workplace, I am surrounded by beautifully talented people with different strengths and giftings. Without them, I really can say my area of focus would be a flop. Each gifting they possess helps complete the vision given to leaders in excellence. The vision would not be complete with the work of one person and is dependent on the gifts of many.
The public speaker mentioned in the introduction could not perform her job without a leader to cast a vision. That vision would not be communicated without cameras and microphones, which, in turn, depend on the skills of those operating them. Each person involved has a specific role, and if even one person is missing, the mission remains incomplete.
In a world where people are encouraged to focus on themselves, God’s Kingdom encourages our attention to be focussed on others. Life isn’t about me, but it’s about “we.” Life was never meant to be done alone, but together. And together, our gifts run like a well-oiled machine, producing much fruit to change the world we live in. We are better together!
PRAYER:
Thank You, God, that You have uniquely gifted me for such a time as this. I pray that You would surround me with the people I need and the people that need me. I realize that life isn’t about me, but it’s about how the community I am a part of works together for the vision You’ve given Your church. Use me, guide me, and mold me into everything You desire me to be. Give me a heart to lean into others strengths and giftings to learn and glean from. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear You. Help me realize that life isn’t about me, but it’s about You and others. I thank You for revealing Your heart to me, and I thank You that I have the privilege of dwelling in Your house forever. Amen
We'd love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments what God is speaking to you as you read these devotionals. If you haven't already subscribed to receive our devotional emails right to your inbox, hit the subscribe button below and invite your family and friends to subscribe as well! Thank you for being a part of our Opendoor Devotional Community. We appreciate you!
1 Comment
Thanks for such a beautifully written reminder that confirms a recent conversation with a dear, Christian-Sister-Leader-Friend❣️