Royston First United Methodist Church

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is thesame God who activates all of them in everyone.” – 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Corinthians 9-12

I can remember a laser tag facility near Roswell where I spent a lot of time with my friends. It was cheap and fun, and we had a good time playing laser tag and hanging out in the arcade center. Whenever you entered the laser tag arena, you were given a body pack with a laser gun attached to it. To start the game, each participant had to hold the gun sideways and walk under a device where you heard the magic word, “Activated!” So when I read in the New Revised Standard Version of 1Corinthians 12 about the activation of spiritual gifts in thebelievers, I think about this image.

The body of Christ is made up of many different types of people, and it takes all of us working together for the body to function as a whole. You may feel that you are not an important part of what God is doing in this world, but that could not be farther from the truth. You have been given a very special gift that has been activated for use in our world. When you use that gift the way God intended it to be used, I believe you will see God do amazing things. But if we squander our gifts, then we deprive the rest of the world from experiencing thebody of Christ at its fullest strength.

Our world needs the church now more than ever. We need all of us to use thegifts that God has endowed to us and activated in us by the Holy Spirit so that we can make disciples of Jesus who make disciples of Jesus. What gifts are activated in you? How are you using your gifts for God’s glory? I pray that our gifts may be used together to further the Kingdom of God in this world.

This Sunday, we will be discussing 1 Corinthians 13 as we talk about love being the more excellent way. I look forward to being with you in worship this weekend beginning Sunday at 8:45 AM online and on campus at 9:30 and 11:00 AM!

Have a great weekend!

Blessings,
Matt

P.S. If you want to know more about spiritual gifts, I encourage you to explore your spiritual gifts and take the Spiritual Gifts Assessment. When you have completed the assessment, contact me and I would love to talk about how theHoly Spirit may wanting to activate those gifts in you through our ministries at Royston First UMC.