The 40 Day TBC Life Devotion

“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them (Romans 12:6, ESV).

Romans 12:4-8 begins by defining the church as “many members in one body” (v4). We don’t look alike, think alike, act alike, nor are we gifted alike. We are all uniquely created and gifted—each of us expressing different qualities and characteristics of our Father in heaven. That means that in order for us to fully experience God, we have to appreciate the variety of His creation—including those people that are different from us.
 
Verse 5 says that we are, “individually members one of another”. We are not independent but rather interdependent. We need each other. We need each other’s gifts. We need each other’s encouragement. We need each other’s love and life and laughter.

Seven specific gifts are shared here in verses 6-8: prophecy (speaking for God), serving, teaching, exhorting (calling to your side), giving, leading, and showing mercy.

“When I was a young Christian, I thought that God kept His gifts on shelves and the best gifts were on the highest shelves and I would have to reach up. I learned later the best gifts are on the lowest shelf and I had to stoop down.” --D.L. Moody

From these seven gifts, which ones have you seen God working through you the most? Is there one where you seem especially strong? Consider seven different people at TBC who might best demonstrate each of these gifts for you (In other words: Who is your prophet? Who is your teacher? Who has shown you mercy? Etc.)

Dave Samples