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By Rev Don Rivers
It is that time of year where we take a few weeks and look at a specific passage of scripture and dig in. For our Winter Bible Study this year we will be looking at Romans 12; Dedicated Service, Living for God. I encourage you to grab your Bible and join us. If you need one let us know and we will get you one. We are exploring the adjustments we need to make to serve our Lord in a way that honors Him. Whose have we included on the team? Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
We jumped right in and learned that as we live, we need to live differently. We read the words to describe the life we should live; holy and sacrifice. Live a life that is set apart, different. A life that puts the consideration of others above our own, sacrifice. The writer reminds us that we are accountable to God. This life he talks about must be acceptable to God.
We then learned that we not only need to live differently, we need to think differently. God is the only one who can transform the way we think. We don’t see or understand all things. Only God has a complete picture and if we allow him to, He will guide us, He will transform us.
God promises we will have what we need. He will not guide us in a direction He hasn’t already equipped us for. He will provide the faith and knowledge we need to walk the path He has prepared for us. Don’t buy into the lie that we know it all.
This week we add the concept of teamwork to our understanding. In the same way as knowledge and the fact that we don’t know everything helps us learn to let God guide us; the reality that we cannot do everything ourselves prompts us to let others join us on the journey.
I have seen many try to do things on their own. They think they somehow can accomplish more individually than together. I think that desire stems from wanting the recognition when the job is complete. Look at what I did, instead of look at what we accomplished.
6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
Anyone who has been part of a team knows each member has specific responsibilities that when performed in unison accomplish the task much more efficiently than an individual could. Why is it we have trouble sharing the spotlight? The main reason is we have and continue to be conditioned by the world around us that we are the focus of everything, we are the center of the universe. The individual is celebrated. I contend that no one person, even Jesus, accomplished anything on their own.
Have you seen a NASCAR pit stop? Back in the day we had some pretty lengthy pit stops, minutes not seconds. Then one day the Wood Brothers put their thinking cap on and thought it through. Let’s have a team of guys that have a single task but they perform it at the same time. If we cut down the time in the pit we can gain on the track. The modern-day pitstop was born.
We now have coaches, designated pitstop teams, choreographed movements, training, strength and conditioning, all looking to carve a few tenths of a second off the time spent in the pits. Stockcar pitstops are fast, but the fastest belong to F1. They have a 4-tire change and adjustments down under 2 seconds. The choreography of the team is amazing to watch. Search YouTube and check it out, it is amazing.
Let’s apply that to our lives and how to live. The message is, include others. No matter how talented an individual we are, we cannot do everything. We should look for ways to include others and develop the relationships necessary to reach more people with the Good News. Think about the way Christ went about building the Church, His Church.
First he included Mary and Joseph, entering the world as a newborn baby, surrendering his Godly attributes and allowing two humans to raise him. When the time came to begin His ministry he assembled a team, The Dream Team! No, not quite, he called some tax collectors, fisherman, a zealot and a few women. He even called a religious leader, Nicodemus, but he didn’t have the faith to leave it all behind and follow Christ, after all, what would people say.
You see each one called added something to the team, they didn’t know it, but God did. You see, God put the abilities in us, He is the one that equips us to do the things He has prepared in advance for us to do. Read that again, God calls us, equips us and places us where He wants us to be for His purpose.
Therein lies the rub, we think we get to decide what we do, we decide what training we want and what aspect of our abilities we want to develop. That is where we lose connection with God. Each of us has things we can do, some of us better than others. That doesn’t mean that is what God has called you to do.
Let me explain. This young man was a football player, one of the best offensive linemen in the world. From college he was placed on a NFL team and in his rookie season went to the Super Bowl. His future was bright, the potential for fame and fortune was great. You have never heard of him because that is not what God called him to do. After the Super Bowl he refused a big contract and left football to serve as a Youth Pastor in his church. He followed God and serves Him.
Why? Because that is where true satisfaction and fulfilment come from. When we do what God has called us to do and equipped us to do then and only then do we feel like we fit. God prepared each of us to have a certain spot on His team. He equips us to accomplish the task he prepared for us. He offers us the satisfaction and fulfilment that comes from being in His will. The blessing of God is realized when we are in the place that God wants us, not the place we think we want to be.
Romans 12:4-8; NLT; 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.
