When You’ve Got It You’ve Got It (ATP)
My husband seems to be much more spiritually sensitive than I am. Is this because he is the spiritual leader of our household or am I missing something?
Romans 12:6 says, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them…” Now let’s read, 1 Corinthians 12:17, “If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?” As I looked at this question, immediately these two scriptures came to mind. Actually, some others came as well, but we will keep it simple.
One of the most interesting things about the how God has made us, is the extreme variety He has created. This of course, we can plainly see in people, how we all share such similar traits but at the exact same time are vastly different. Our spiritual walk is no different. First we must understand a truth; God is not interested in either talent or ability. He only cares about hunger. We see that in the Old Testament God used a donkey and in the New Testament Jesus said if these keep silent the very rocks would cry out. God does not care about what we can bring, but rather what we are willing to bring.
A husband and wife who are both hungry for the things of God will walk in and with that which God has put into them. Have you ever been in a service and thought, “Wow, that person is excited! I must not be spiritual because I’m not feeling it!” The flow of the Spirit is, in a sense catered to how God uses us and how He has created us. Think about it this way, doesn’t a hand function differently than a foot? Probably the main answer here is that you are both used differently.
In actuality, a trick of the devil, is to get people so focused on others that they never develop what God has put in them. People sometimes go as far as to wrongly covet what someone else is doing and completely miss what God wants to do through them. A minister we are connected to once said something that has stuck with me for years, because of how profound, yet simple it really is. She said, “You need to know how God uses you.” This can also apply to how He speaks to you.
Think about it this way, don’t you talk to different people, different ways? We all can have relationships with the same people, yet all those relationships even though we have common interests and goals, are all built in different ways. It is the same with God.
Now I do want to put this out there, that what I’m saying is not an excuse to be lazy or not to stretch ourselves. While the Lord does deal with us differently, He deals with us through the same Word and same Holy Spirit. Some people may take what I’ve said so far and use it as an excuse to not do what the Word clearly tells us. That’s as much, if not more in error than comparison. We still need to purpose to have a prayer life, a Word life, and a church life. We still need to serve and reach people and use our faith for our weaknesses. We still need to allow the Holy Spirit to both work things in us and out of us. The key is to endeavor to have a heart towards God and His Kingdom. Desire to have God fulfill His plan in you.
Remember also these things Paul told the Philippians in Philippians 1:6, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;” and Philippians 2:12-13, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
Whether it’s your spouse or your church friends or even a minister of the gospel, rejoice in how God uses them but don’t desire to do things exactly like they do. Imitate hunger, honor, humility, dedication and love, but allow God to work in you the way He does. Rejoice in the differing of gifts, knowing that it’s all part of His purpose; many parts, different functions. When we learn to focus on just what He wants to do with us, it’s amazing how a joyous and peace-filled relationship with God develops. You will say, “Why didn’t I do this all along?”
Philippians 3:17
Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.
Be Blessed,
Pastor Jeff
