The potential power and effectiveness of our
Christian Communities is awesome. Working together with God’s guidance is life
changing and life building. God did not intend for us to be at odds with each
other, but to be uplifting and comforting with each other. We are His tools for
seeking the best for His created children. The more we realize this, the better
life on Earth will be. It takes all of us to help God realize His Will for us,
His created children.
In 1 Peter 4:8-11 we see our calling: “Above all,
maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be
hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good
stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift
each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one
speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength
that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus
Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.”
We
sometimes have a lack of confidence in the gifts God has given us. He intends
for us to use them for Him, but we don't think that we are worthy. We cheat
others and ourselves when we don't appreciate and make the most of our gifts.
God has given each of us so much. He created us for a reason. He gave each of
us special gifts for a reason. He wants us to love one another and to come
hand-in-hand to Him.
St. Paul says it so well, "Now there are
varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services,
but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same
God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation
of the Spirit for the common good." (1 Corinthians 12:1-11)
God is not interested in just the few working for
Him; He wants all of us in on the action. The meek and the poor can well
minister to the great and the powerful. St. Matthew shares Jesus' words with us
when he said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven… Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." If this
is true for these, then everyone else needs to get with the program and use the
gifts that God has given for His work. Each of us is called to be a Christian
leader.
God is not selfish with His word and His strength.
He's willing to work with us on a "rent-to-own" basis. Using our
gifts from God, we may speak His words as though they were our own and we may
serve others having His strength within us. With the salvation He has given us
through the life and the blood of Jesus, we gain forgiveness of our sins and
ownership in His eternal kingdom.
So we must hang together and not be separated in the
Lord. In Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 we hear: “Two are better than one, because they
have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the
other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help.
Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?
And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A
threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
St. Paul wraps things up in Philippians 2:3-5: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit,
but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look
not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let
the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,”
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