I Corinthians 12: 14 & 15
Do you remember the kid’s toy that was a box with different shaped holes? It came with plastic pieces to teach the toddler which shape went in the right hole. I used to watch my kids progressively get better at recognizing the squares, stars and other shapes. It was very tempting to help them along as they tried to stuff a square piece into a round opening. I just had to keep my hands to myself and let them figure it out.
Many of us are trying to fit the wrong shapes together in our own lives. God has molded us to fit in a certain place, and when we try to fit somewhere else, we either have to force the opening to change or we rearrange ourselves to be in a place that wasn’t meant for us. Oh, it can be done if we are persistent. God will give us over to our own selfish will. He will patiently wait for us to see that pretending to be someone we aren’t it isn’t working out so well.
Why do we lean on our own understanding of our makeup instead of asking Him first what He would have us do with our talents? When we’re tired of being pinched and squeezed, we turn to God and ask why He hasn’t made things work for us. Getting into the wrong shaped hole is tough, but wait till you have to push your way out backwards! It’s a pain we can avoid if we surrender to God’s design in the first place.
Knowing with certainty what part we hold in the body of Christ will make us effective in its function. We will find peace in doing what we know we were created to do. Life is difficult enough without spending so much energy on stuffing and squeezing into a place that will never be a comfortable fit or advance the Kingdom of God.
Can you give God thanks for who you are? If you can, you will find your place in the body and the grace to function as you should. Our talents and gifts are not our own. We belong to a bigger picture and an all knowing Master. What’s your shape in the Body of Christ?
Let's Pray: Dear God, give me grace today to find the place you designed for me. I want to be used for your Glory and purpose.
Do you remember the kid’s toy that was a box with different shaped holes? It came with plastic pieces to teach the toddler which shape went in the right hole. I used to watch my kids progressively get better at recognizing the squares, stars and other shapes. It was very tempting to help them along as they tried to stuff a square piece into a round opening. I just had to keep my hands to myself and let them figure it out.
Many of us are trying to fit the wrong shapes together in our own lives. God has molded us to fit in a certain place, and when we try to fit somewhere else, we either have to force the opening to change or we rearrange ourselves to be in a place that wasn’t meant for us. Oh, it can be done if we are persistent. God will give us over to our own selfish will. He will patiently wait for us to see that pretending to be someone we aren’t it isn’t working out so well.
Why do we lean on our own understanding of our makeup instead of asking Him first what He would have us do with our talents? When we’re tired of being pinched and squeezed, we turn to God and ask why He hasn’t made things work for us. Getting into the wrong shaped hole is tough, but wait till you have to push your way out backwards! It’s a pain we can avoid if we surrender to God’s design in the first place.
Knowing with certainty what part we hold in the body of Christ will make us effective in its function. We will find peace in doing what we know we were created to do. Life is difficult enough without spending so much energy on stuffing and squeezing into a place that will never be a comfortable fit or advance the Kingdom of God.
Can you give God thanks for who you are? If you can, you will find your place in the body and the grace to function as you should. Our talents and gifts are not our own. We belong to a bigger picture and an all knowing Master. What’s your shape in the Body of Christ?
Let's Pray: Dear God, give me grace today to find the place you designed for me. I want to be used for your Glory and purpose.
Jan Cline is an author and speaker from the Pacific Northwest, USA. She is also founder and director of the Inland NW Christian Writers conference and leads a writers group in her area. You may learn more about her at www.jancline.net.
Author of A Heart Out of Hiding
Also available on Amazon
Author of A Heart Out of Hiding
Also available on Amazon
I thank God for my quite and reticent spirit...I'm certain it gives me the ability to sit still and observe the world and then write about it. I thank God today and thank you, Jan, for reminding me of this.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jan. Great insight. I can only add "Amen."
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Jan. Good thing to remember.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jan, that fits in a little with a blog topic I have been writing
ReplyDelete