Romans 12:1-8
Be Still: Father, thank you that you meet me where I am today. Please strengthen me in your Spirit and speak to me through your word. Amen
Read: Romans 12:1-8
'in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.' (v4-6)
Encounter: 'It’s not fair!'
If you’re a parent, carer, teacher or literally any role that puts you within ten meters of a child you will have heard these words on numerous occasions. When I was a kid, my parents would always answer with the classic, 'life isn’t fair' – you might be familiar with that one too! At the time this felt like a very unsatisfactory and frankly infuriating response to the total injustice of my little sister getting the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle lunchbox when I saw it first! However, having had 30 years to reflect, process and heal from the trauma, I’ve come to realise that my parents were teaching me an incredibly important lesson because it turns out it’s true! Life isn’t fair!
God is super upfront about this fact. We’re all different, he’s made us to be different, he gives us different gifts and guess what….it’s not fair! The crazy truth is that this isn’t a mistake: God designed us to need each other, to be dependent on one other and so he very deliberately doesn’t give us everything we need. Inequality is baked into the kingdom, not because God wants us to go without but because he wants us to learn how to share and to experience the joy of blessing and receiving from others.
Apply: What gifts has God given you? Make a list of all the wonderful things in your life and the abilities and spiritual gifts that you have. Now go through that list and chat to Jesus about how you might be able to use those gifts to bless others. If you have the gift of prophecy, ask God for an encouraging word for someone, if you have a house, invite someone round for dinner, if you’re great at DIY, build someone a bookcase. Life isn’t fair…have some fun with that today!
Devote: Jesus, thank you that you have given me many gifts. Please help me to share those with others today.