February 23
“God has set the members, each one
of them, in the body just as He pleased.”
1 CORINTHIANS 12:18
of them, in the body just as He pleased.”
1 CORINTHIANS 12:18
A Christian should realize that he or she is a unique member of the Body of Christ and not the entire Body all at once. We are many parts that together make up the whole. Each individual member has its own unique purpose, function, and role. The responsibility for God’s work is divided among many members.
We are not called to be all things to all people. We are not called to meet every need. God sets each person in the Body of Christ as it pleases Him, and He is the One Who sends us. We do not send ourselves. We do not determine what we would like to do. We do not analyze the situation with our limited understanding and come up with a solution. The Head determines what needs to be done, and the members simply perform it.
Source: “The Church in the Wilderness” by Chip Brogden
Related Posts:
CHIP BROGDEN is a best-selling author, teacher, and former pastor who shares "real, simple, truth" about a Christ-centered faith that is based on relationship, not religion. Learn more »
Hi Chip! Thought-provoking as usual.
I have a question for you. How can you really be sure, when you feel led to do something, that it’s Jesus doing it and not your flesh or your soulish desires? For example, I have a soulish desire to help everybody. But I have only one physical body, I’m neither omnipotent nor omnipresent, and it stands to reason I cannot help all people at once (except that, when we intercede for all God’s people, I believe in a sense we ARE helping all God’s people somehow) and I have limited means, gifts and power to help the people I minister to.
Coming back to my question, let me give you an example. When I read something that blesses me, I have the urge to tell the writer I’ve been blessed and how. I know this is Biblical (in Galatians it says sth like when someone teaches you something, you should share all good things that come out of it with that person) and Godly encouragement, because I always make sure to stress that it was Jesus speaking to me through that person, so that person will feel affirmed and at the same time remember he or she is merely a vessel.
On other occassions, I read sth on Facebook and I also feel the urge to add my two cents, my personal experience with the verse or phrase being shared, because I believe a short testimony or parable or explanation or application might help make the message being taught more explicit. In all those occasions, I believe it’s the Holy Spirit speaking, not me, because I actually don’t know exactly what I’m going to say (just the gist) until I finish writing.
My question is: How can I be really certain I’m doing the right thing in the service I’m performing unto the Lord? I believe I have the right intentions, because my heart’s desire is to magnify the Lord and bless/help/encourage/exhort the reader in any way I can. But how can I really tell it’s God sending and leading me and I’m not being trapped by some lesser form of service (being a people pleaser, wanting to be some kind of hero in my own eyes, wanting to be nice and good in my strength, being superficial, etc.)?
One thing that encourages me is that the feedback I receive from people after encouraging them in Biblical terms is really positive. More than once I’ve had people telling me they felt the Holy Spirit had sent me and said exactly what they really needed to hear to stay hopeful in the midst of great suffering. I also feel great when ministering in my gift, and get constantly reminded how much better it is to give than to receive. It still worries me a bit, though, and I try to keep my writings centered on God the Father and Jesus as much as I can, to avoid the trap of preaching about myself.
A man of the Spirit is a man few words. He is not a chatty person or an idle babbler. Yes for Yes and No for No is his style.
James
Corina,
I understand what you are saying. The main thing is for the message you give will be straight to the point and understood by the reader or the hearer. You will be led by the Spirit to how much you say or write. The way to understand the difference is when all of self is removed. God will determine who needs what at the given time. We also have an adversary who tries to stop the Gospel of Christ because in the end that is all that really matters. God told us to spread His word and to make disciples, this should be our ultimate goal. If we are not careful we can cause people to look to people too much for advise instead of teaching them how to sit at the feet of Christ so they in return can grow in the Spirit of God and the cycle continues. I believe this is Gods true desire. When you have thought of what self can do to achieve a goal and you look to self, it is of your own desire, the flesh, that you have done so. When we are consumed by Gods Spirit to do any good work, we will never think of what self can do or has done. Go in faith Corina and don’t lean on your own understanding, but only the will of the Father and He will direct your path. Blessings!
A beautiful reminder that God does His will with His own body, regardless of how man tries place the body of Christ.
Without faith it is impossible to please GOD- a thought i needed to share!!
God bless you Chip,Karla and family,thank you so much 🙂
Jackie,
Chip had a great message on faith in yesterdays devotional. “Believe the Impossible”.
Thank you Sherry 🙂
I agree with you chip, amen
I agree and needed to be reminded of this. I enjoy giving. There have been times when I haven’t given to maybe a homeless person and it bothered me. Father showed me later that He didn’t send me to that particular person. He has given me many opportunities to give to a dear homeless person or just to do what seems like a small favor for my neighbors. It seemed so insignificant to me, but it meant a lot to them. They ended up praising God and were so thankful. Their appreciation blessed me. Thank you for your daily message. Sometimes they are the answer to a friend’s troubled life that I don’t have words for at the moment and I will share your teaching with them that day.
The Body of Christ is not a temple made by human hands. Instead is an organic body with the Life of God. The body functions in perfect harmony with the Head. The Church/Ekklesia not being a building and being organic not organized, grows according to the process of of Life of God in them and carry fruits for the expression of God Here on earth, through the faith in The Verb of God, Jesus of Nazareth our Messiah And Gift of Life.!,
Hello Karina!
I’m like you very much and can understand you! Over time i have learned that my flesh will be exhausted and sometimes it wasn’t the spirit. My heart was right, but i had to learn that people needs to set their own focus about Jesus and to experience for themself that I’m not JESUS so to speak!
I pray often for wisdom and have learned that i can love people, and have an ear for them, but that is only the beginning . When it comes to the heart of the matter, people wants to have it their way, often, not Christ. But we can relax in God’s Wisdom and believe HIM, that He is able to do something with our two fishes and our little bread we give!
Be encouraged and look only to the Lord when you think you want to help……He will multiply and bless, when you trust Him
Greetings Suzi
True!
Yes…I saw the disastrous consequences for all when we are working to help others without having learned to receive the will of God in every situation. ?
I really have to deepen this subject and much to learn for practice…?