Category Archives: Availability

Abstract humanoid figure glowing with cosmic energy in colorful space
Availability, Bible, Body, Deeds, Gifts, Romans, Scripture, Servant, Service

DO YOUR PART

ROMANS 12:4

“For just as we have many parts in one body and all the body’s parts do not have the same function,”

Boy, as I get older, I realize the importance of every part of my body. When my feet hurt, it’s hard to walk around. My feet can limit my whole body. When my head hurts, I just want to lie down and close my eyes. My head can limit my whole body. When my back acts up, once again my whole body is limited. Our bodies were designed by the Great Creator to function in harmony. We need every molecule doing its part to be healthy.

Paul uses this analogy over the next several verses to show the importance of the body of Christ working together to accomplish His mission for the world. In Matthew Poole’s Commentary he writes of verse 4 and 5, “These verses are a reason against arrogancy. All Christians are members of one and the same body; therefore, they should not pride themselves in their gifts but employ them for the common good. It is with the church, the mystical body of Christ, as with a natural body that hath many members, and all these have not the same office,or the same action or operation (as the word signifieth); the eye hath one office, the ear another, the hand a third, etc. So, the church of Christ, though one body in him who is the Head, hath many members;” That’s a good explanation, I think.

APPLICATION

The word used by Paul which is translated as “function” is the Greek word práksis which is “a function, implying sustained activity and/or responsibility.” (HELPS Word-studies). This isn’t a one time deed. It’s an ongoing activity. I can’t help but think about a dear saint in a church I served. This lady served over 45 years in the church nursery. She rocked three generations of children during that time. She had indeed served her function in the body of that church.

This is the same word used in Matthew 16:27 when Jesus said, “‘For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.’” Jesus is looking at our ongoing deeds, not the thing we did once out of guilt to get someone off our back. He is looking for servants who serve, not perform.

We will see in the following verses in Romans 12 some of the gifts that God has given the body to perform. I urge you to check back in with us as we look at the functions God has given us. Yours may be listed here or in one of the other passages like 1 Corinthians 12:12-27. Whatever God has gifted you to do, do it with the right motive. Do it to honor Him for all He has done for you. Remember, the body needs you. It cannot function as it should if you don’t function well.

Thank You, Lord, for the different functions of the body and the way You have gifted me to serve.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

Standard
Availability, Bible, Prayer, Romans, Scripture, Talents, Witnessing

SO MUCH GOING FOR THEM

ROMANS 9:4

“who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons and daughters, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the temple service, and the promises;”

People say all the time that if someone they know with some special talent would get saved, God could really use them. Wrong! God does not want our abilities. He wants our availability. Right? It doesn’t matter how great the talent if that person is not willing to be used by God. You have probably heard of missionaries or preachers who gave up their field of talent to be used by God. Sure, God can use our talents. After all, He gave them to us. But He doesn’t need them.

Paul is still talking about his Jewish brothers and sisters and longing for them to come to Christ. He reminds us in this verse today that the Jewish people were adopted as God’s sons and daughters. They received God’s glory, His covenant, His Law, His temple and His promises. They were a favored people. But they still needed the Savior which Paul had found. He wanted to see them come to Christ and experience true glory.

APPLICATION

The Expositor’s Greek Testament has a good view of this verse. “The intensity of Paul’s distress, and of his longing for the salvation of his countrymen, is partly explained in this verse. It is the greatness of his people, their unique place of privilege in God’s providence, the splendour of the inheritance and of the hopes which they forfeit by unbelief, that make their unbelief at once so painful, and so perplexing.”

Do you have that “intensity of distress” over someone you know who needs Christ? Most of us don’t. I pray every day for my family, and I pray specifically for all of them to know Christ and to walk with Him daily. I even pray for my grandchildren’s future spouses and their families that they would know, love and follow Christ. Why? Because I know how important that is to family.

Whom are you praying for today? Think about your immediate and extended family. If you have lost family members, make it a a daily practice to pray for them by name. Beg God for them. Have the same intensity for them that Paul had for his kinsmen. Are you willing to sacrifice anything to see them come to Christ? I want to carry all my loved ones to heaven one day. I don’t want to know that even one is left behind. That’s how Paul felt. The thought of his kinsmen missing heaven because they refused their Messiah just broke his heart. Have that heart for others.

Lord, You are the One Who gives me my burden for others. Use me today to reach just one.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

Standard