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Today I am reading day 357 of Rick Warren’s Daily Devotional:
Give Your Life for Something
Romans 12:5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
1 Corinthians 12:14-19 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!
You are going to give your life for something. What will it be – a career, a sport, a hobby, fame, wealth? None of these will have lasting significance. Service is the pathway to real significance.
As we serve together in God’s family, our lives take on eternal importance. Paul said, “I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less . . . because of what you are a part of.” (1 Corinthians 12:14a, 19 MSG)
God wants to use you to make a difference in his world. He wants to work through you. What matters is not the duration of your life, but the donation of it.
If you’re not involved in any service or ministry, what excuse have you been using?
Abraham was old; Jacob was insecure; Leah was unattractive; Joseph was abused; Moses stuttered.
Gideon was poor; Samson was codependent; Rahab was immoral; David had an affair and all kinds of family problems. Elijah was suicidal; Jeremiah was depressed; Jonah was reluctant; Naomi was a widow.
John the Baptist was eccentric to say the least; Peter was impulsive and hot-tempered; Martha worried a lot. The Samaritan woman had several failed marriages; Zacchaeus was unpopular; Thomas had doubts; Paul had poor health; and Timothy was timid.
That is quite a variety of misfits, but God used each of them in his service. He will use you, too, if you stop making excuses.
Today I am reading day 62 of Rick Warren’s Daily Devotional:
God’s Unique Role for You
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
1 Corinthians 12:7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
God has a unique role for you to play in his family.
This is your ministry, and God has gifted you for this assignment: “A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church.” (1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT)
Your local fellowship is the place God designed for you to discover, develop, and use your gifts. You may also have a wider ministry, but that is in addition to your service in a local body. Jesus has not promised to build your ministry; he has promised to build his church.
We are not just to model God’s love by loving each other; we are to carry it together to the rest of the world. This is an incredible privilege we have been given together.
You will share in Christ’s mission in the world. When Jesus walked the earth, God worked through the physical body of Christ; today he uses his spiritual body. The church is God’s instrument on earth.
As members of Christ’s body, we are his hands, his feet, his eyes, and his heart. He works through us in the world. We each have a contribution to make.
Paul tells us, “He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.” (Ephesians 2:10 MSG)
Joseph Prince – Grace-Based Leadership—Building Your Life & Ministry On The Gospel – 10 Mar 2013
Published on 12 Dec 2012
How do you steward your life and ministry to withstand tough times, and bear fruit? Get the answer in this revelatory message by Joseph Prince. See what it really means to build your ministry on “gold, silver and precious stones,” as opposed to “wood, hay and straw.” Understand why everything you do needs to be built on the sure foundation of Christ and His gospel of grace, and begin to walk in greater effectiveness and anointing as a leader and channel of blessing in your home, workplace and church. Build on the right foundation today and enjoy God’s rewards and blessings in every season!
Get the full message at:
JosephPrince.com – http://bit.ly/13T4nAO
iTunes – http://bit.ly/15pEaWp
Amazon – http://bit.ly/YFEso7
Find us at:
http://www.facebook.com/josephprince
Lord, lead me everyday 