#DailyDevotion Jesus Has Given You Peculiar Gifts To Serve One Another

Eph. 4:7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

 

Perhaps it is from worrying about giving the wrong impression about getting into heaven by works or maybe it’s a matter of human jealousy or perhaps a combination of the two that gets Christians thinking that we all have the same amount of faith and/or grace as all other Christians but that simply isn’t the case as Scripture clearly teaches otherwise. Now it is true that there is no particular measure of faith or grace needed to be saved. How much faith or grace do you need to be saved? Well you need faith in Jesus and the grace to have that faith. There is no measurement.

 

But now Paul says “But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” Each Christian being a distinct member of the body of Christ is given a measure of grace to accomplish what Christ desires for you to do as a member of his body. We don’t all get the same gifts nor the same measure of any particular gift.

Paul is fairly clear here: Rom 12:3-8 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.  (4)  For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,  (5)  so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.  (6)  Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;  (7)  if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;  (8)  the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

 

Now he has given us these gifts as he ascended into heaven to the right hand of God. Like the Lord who goes on a journey and gives 5 years worth of salary to one servant, 2 years worth to another and 1 years worth to another and tells them to go do business with it, our Lord Jesus Christ has given us a measure of faith, a measure of grace to use in serving one another and our neighbor. So the only question then is are we using the gifts given us to serve our neighbor?

 

Now remember the Lord who has given us these gifts is the Lord who originated in the heavens above, descended to us in our flesh to win salvation for us and ascended back into heaven and fills all creation. He is with us always and exercises his power on our behalf, on behalf of the Church. Instead of fearing of using our gifts because of the fear of failure step forth boldly to use the gifts he has given you knowing he is with you and for you in the use of them and will accomplish through you what he intends to accomplish.

 

Gracious God and Father, your son Jesus Christ has poured out upon us the gifts of your grace and faith that we might serve our neighbor and give glory unto Christ. Remove the fears from our hearts that keep us from doing this and replace it with love for you and for our neighbor that we may serve them and give glory to you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.