“We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.”  Romans 12:5 (NLT)

CHALLENGE

Pray today to give thanks for the support that the church—not just Westheights, but the Christian church across our community, our country and throughout the world—gives to you as a believer

PREPARATION

• Praise God for who He is
• Confess your sinfulness and need for cleansing
• Allow His Spirit to draw you near
• Listen as He speaks to you

REQUESTS

• That each of us will discover our God-given gifts.
• That we will be encouraged to use our gifts to strengthen the church.
• That God will send new members who have the gifts that collectively we may be lacking.
• That God will strengthen our faith, so that others can always rely on us.

THANKSGIVING

• Thank God for hearing you.
• Trust that God is at work to accomplish His will.

OPTIONAL READINGS

• 1 Corinthians 12:7

QUOTATION

Imagine what a harmonious world it could be if every single person, both young and old, shared a little of what he is good at doing.  (Quincy Jones)

LIFE STORY

In chapter 12 of his letter to the church in Rome Paul first gives us the humbling reminder, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought” (12:3) before the instruction that each member belongs to all the others.

Part of what we learn from this passage is fairly straightforward:  each of us has a different function; not one of us is complete, or perfect, or able to achieve everything on our own; we are able to accomplish much more as a group than we can as individuals; and we can give God praise as we admire the different gifts that He has given to others in the church.

But another part is more subtle.  Because I rely on you and you rely on me, both of us are encouraged to continue to have faith and not to give up hope.   I am motivated in two ways:  firstly, that I can rely on the church – all the others in the body of Christ; secondly, that others are relying on me so I must continue to remain committed and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit.

I chose this theme not because I have learned and adopted it but because I struggle with it.  Even though I understand and agree with the message, I continue to have difficulty putting it into practice – attempting much on my own rather than recruiting the help of others.

Contributed by:  Jeff Willmer