Today's Passage - Romans 12:4-5

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Romans 12:4-5   "Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."   In this passage, Paul specifically talked about collaborating in ministry.  Not only should we know our own gifts, we also need to understand that God has given different gifts to everyone.  There's not need to compare or reject each other because of the differences between us.  When we see people who are different from us, our first reaction often is "we are different, so we just go our own ways," and that happens in church as well.  Have you ever considered the fact that even though you can avoid some brothers and sisters when we are on earth, one day we will meet each other in heaven.  When are you in heaven, are you going to notice people who are different from you and thus claim that you don't belong there?  May God give us an open mind to face those who are different from us.   There are a few things that we need to learn as we face people who are different from us.  First, do not compare ourselves with others.  The purpose of spiritual gifts is for us to serve, thus there's no greater or lesser gifts.  Many years ago when I lived in Philadelphia, I experienced a strike by street cleaners for many weeks, and at the end there were tons of filthy trash everywhere.  Suddenly we realized that the most important person in the city is the not the mayor, but rather the street cleaners.  Evidently every role is important, and in the same way every gift is important before God, thus there's no need to compare.   Second, do not reject each other because of differences in gifts.  Verse five says that in Christ we are all one body, therefore we must collaborate with each other in the body.  We can't claim that we don't need other gifts, because such statement is from our pride.  When Paul encountered Jesus through the great light that shined on him on the way to Damascus, we asked two most important questions in his life.  First question: Lord, who are you?  Second question: Lord, what should I do?  Jesus only answered the first question, but didn't directly answered his second question.  He, however, later answered his second question through young believer Ananias, who explained to Paul God's plan for his life.  God wanted to teach Paul to be humble and recognize that he also needs to be helped and ministered by other brothers and sisters.  Therefore, we need to collaborate in the Lord in order to know what our gifts are, and that's how the beauty and glory of God's Kingdom will be completely manifested.  May the Lord help us to have a soft and humble heart, and let us to united with one another in the Lord.        Pray with Pastor Tong            Lord, please give us a humble heart so that we will always consider others better than ourselves and accept our differences.  May the Lord send down all kinds of gifts to the church so that the beauty and perfection of Christ can be manifested through us.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!