Daily Devotions – Gift List

Daily Devotions – Gift List

 

Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:

 

Romans 12:1-8  (NIV)
12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

 

I have a long list of ways that I have conformed to this world.  I imagine I’m not alone in this.  There are things we do that pull our hearts away from God.  Yet, for today, let us focus on the work of God.  What are we being transformed into?  As God’s grace shapes our heart and lives, he calls us to be humble.  Let us practice this today: what does humble look like in the midst of your interactions?  …in your relationships, in your Facebook posts? Now, as we practice humility, consider this: we are all knit together as one body in Christ and we have been given unique gifts and skills!  Paul gives us a starting point: some have the gift of prophecy, service, teaching, encouragement, generosity, leadership or mercy.  Which gifts do you have?  There are countless others not listed here.  Consider how God has made you to fit in here at Shepherd of the Hills.  Praise God for his wonderful work in you! And praise God for this wonderful community we worship and serve within.