Do you ever wonder what you can do for God’s Kingdom? There are many ways that your gifts can bring glory to God in His Kingdom as you love God and others, in your neighborhood, community, and in our congregation.
Romans 12:1-2 says, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
According to this Scripture, we have two choices. On one hand, we can be equipped and energized by allowing God to renew and transform our minds. On the other hand, we become weighed down and discouraged by allowing ourselves to conform to the things we see around us. By choosing to submit to His work in our lives, we become equipped to serve the Lord not just at church, but wherever we are! When our imaginations are captured by the Holy Spirit, our view of our place in this world is transformed.
Romans 12:3-8 goes on to say, “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. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 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.”
God has created us to be different from one another, and He hasn’t assigned more value to one gift than to another. When I look around Evangel, I am so thankful for each person who lives and serves in ways that they are able and equipped! Actions are transformed when our minds are renewed. I recently had a conversation with Kaili Doeden about what motivates her to live the way she does, and she told me that the prospect of being used for God’s glory motivates her to use the gifts God has given her to serve her brothers and sisters in Christ (both in and out of the church) to the best of her ability.
Romans 12:9-16a describes what a life transformed and a mind renewed look like: “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another.”
Dear brothers and sisters, let’s continue to let our minds be renewed, our lives transformed, and our interactions with strangers, neighbors, and friends be filled with grace and Gospel. Let’s remain in Christ where renewal and transformation are orchestrated by the One Who knows and loves us best. Let us take to heart the benedictions spoken at the end of each Worship service – these are truths from God’s word spoken to increase our awareness of His work and presence in our daily lives, glory to God!
~Kendi Fiscus
