“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work” (I Cor 12: 4-6)

A young man desperately wanted to be a preacher. The reaoson was simple. All his life he had seen it was the preacher who was acknowledged. In his church preachers sat in the front seats. They were paid above all else. Everyone wanted to be a preacher and end up as a pastor of a big church. You became a star!

The young man got his wish and became not just a preacher but a Pastor of a mega church. He hit it off and everyone wanted a piece of him. It was good to be called a hero by just about all.

However, something happened. In order to carry out his duties succesfully the young preacher found he needed even the least of people. There was always a need to keep the church tidy. For the service to start he needed someone to manage public address system. And if he made an altar call for people to accept Christ he relied on ordinary ushers and behind the scenes intercessors.

Then it dawned on him. What made a Pastor shine was because of all those working behind him using their different but equally important gifts to build God’s kingdom.

So often in Christian circles, it is so easy to find those glorifying one person over others because they stand out in front of the crowd. The truth is God has blessed his church with multiple gifts, all working in unison, to further His kingdom. Hence the Apostle Paul reminds us, “And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues” (I Cor 12:27 -28). When all these gifts are used complimentary and not in competetion of each other, God’s kingdom is enlarged.

Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, I thank you for all the gifts you have blessed the church with to extend your kingdom, and may we the church use all complementing and not competing with each other, for your glory, this I pray in Jesus’s name.