By Pr Herna Kong
Since the Pentecost, we have lived in the age of the Holy Spirit in which the Holy Spirit works miraculously to fulfil the Father’s plan.
The apostle Peter says, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). The apostle Paul says, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (1 Cor. 12:4-7).
Therefore, the Bible clearly tells us the reason and purpose God gives different gifts to each believer (1 Cor. 12:27). The Holy Spirit is poured out and His gifts are given so that all races and groups are bound in the love of Christ and exemplify the unity in Christ Jesus. “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Cor. 12:27).
Each believer is responsible for the gift(s) bestowed by the Spirit on him or her. Each believer is important in the body of Christ. Therefore, we need one another and we need to be united to do God’s will. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph. 2:10).We were created by God in Jesus Christ for one purpose, which is for doing good works, rather than for showing off, or for competing with other believers in an unhealthy way, or for disputing with other believers.
At ORPC, every one of us is an important member in the body of Christ; our Sunday school teacher, organist, sound-system crew-member, usher and even our brother or sister serving behind the scene. If one member slacks, the entire body suffers and therefore, it is not only those who have prominent gifts are important members of the body but every member of the body is important. Likewise, it is not only the prominent ministries that are important but every ministry is important. Therefore, we should not show favouritism to believers with prominent gifts or to prominent ministries, as gifts belongs to God that are given to us to serve in ministries and do good works.
If you are feeling unimportant as if you were just one of the fence posts in a long row, with what you were doing seemingly not worth the effort, consider this: No matter what your capacity is, if you are working for the Lord, it is “for the common good” (1 Cor. 12:7). Every one of the fence posts is important to the rancher, so you too are important to God, and to everyone else in His family!
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Pet. 4:10).