Making Soup

I love soup! Before I retired, I never made my own soup, but now that I am retired, I make it all the time. Every batch of soup that I make is different from the previous batch — a little of this, a little of that — but it always seems to turn out just right.

As Christians, we are all a little different, too — a little of this, a little of that. Some are good at hospitality, others are good at teaching; some are good administrators and leaders, others are good at encouraging those who need encouragement. Each of us is unique, but even though we are all different, we are also all part of the same body, the church, Christ's church.

1 Corinthians 12:27 – You are Christ's body — that's who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your "part" mean anything. (MSG)

Without all of the different ingredients in my soups, they wouldn't taste as good as they do. Without all of our various gifts, the church cannot function as the body of Christ. Each person in the body of Christ is important. Each of us is needed. Every person's gift is valuable to God, and our purpose is to work together to further God's kingdom. There is no one person in the church who can do everything, and there is no gift that is too small to be used by God.

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 – God's various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. God's various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. God's various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! (MSG)

Are you using your gift(s)? Are you willing to use the gift(s) God has given you for His glory?

No one else can do what you were created to do. No one else can be the person God created you to be.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for the various gifts that You have given to each one of us. Help us to be ready and willing to use them to be a blessing to others and to bring glory to You. Help us to remember that each of us is an important part of the body of Christ, and as we work together as Your church, may we move "rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God's Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ" (Ephesians 4:13 MSG). In Jesus' name. Amen.

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