Rom. 12:4-6—4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us …

Last week’s pastoral letter focused on the importance of service in the church. We have been shown grace through Christ’s work of redemption, which includes the giving of gifts for service in the church. And we talked about the attitude we are to have in that service. We are to serve others humbly, recognizing our strengths and weaknesses, and trusting God to use us.

But sometimes people in the church need motivation to serve. Paul provides it Rom. 12:4-6. He told us, we each may be different, but as Believers, we are united to Christ. Out of mercy, the Holy Spirit has taken us off the cursed and lifeless tree of Adam, and all of grace, he has engrafted us into the Vine—Jesus Christ. As Paul puts it, we are one body with many members. Jesus is our spiritual head, and we compose the other parts—the eyes, ears, feet, and toes.

And this union also means, we individually are members of one another. We’re not only linked to Christ, but to fellow Christians. When I was a basketball coach at Turner Middle school, and we traveled to play games, our principal would tell the team, “Watch how you act, because your behavior reflects on this school. Represent TMS well. You are our face.” She was saying, a tie existed between the members of the team and everyone else in the school. For us as Christians, the association is greater, because we are united to Christ, and therefore to each other. We are all one body interconnected with Jesus, our head, and our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

But how does this union inform our perspective on the church? It should encourage unity. Even though we are from different social classes, genders, ethnic groups, and political affiliations, we are still one. We are ‘the body,’ not ‘the bodies’ of Christ. And so, we should act like it, and not let our economic, biological, cultural, and political differences divide us. We are one people in Christ. Unity is to be our pursuit. And one way we can show this unity is by serving all, interacting regularly with all, praying for all, welcoming all, using our gifts for the benefit of all. 1 Cor. 12:27, [we] are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

Union with Christ motivates unified service in the church, despite the diversity of giftedness mentioned in vs. 6. We have been blessed with gifts that differ according to the grace given to us. Even though we are united to Christ and one another, that doesn’t mean there are no differences among us. God has graciously gifted each one of us in numerous ways, and that variety is not a hurdle to overcome but a help to the Body. Paul elaborates on this in 1 Cor. 12:17-20 when he asks, “What if the whole body were an eye, where would our sense of hearing be? Or if we were just an ear, how would we taste anything? But God has arranged the members of the body for the overall benefit of the members.”

Arms require hands and fingers to work properly. That means, I need you to exercise your gifts, and you need me to do the same. If we don’t, then we are hurting ourselves. In part, our usefulness and joy are dependent upon the exercising of our gifts. People are sometimes discontent in the church, because they are not serving in the church. Furthermore, if we don’t use our gifts, we also hurt one another. We stunt the church’s growth. Gospel gifts require involvement in a Gospel church. A Gospel church is fruitless without Gospel gifts. There is no excuse for sitting in the stands while everyone else is serving in the church. Do you have administrative abilities? We need them. Are you a helper? Sign up. Are you gifted in counseling, encouragement, or teaching? Come talk to the elders and use them at CPC. Serve at CPC.

And we are to do it because we have been graciously united to Christ. We are a part of one body with varying gifts kindly given by the Spirit for mutual benefit. He didn’t have to bestow them upon us. God doesn’t need our gifts. He loves us and wants to use us. Your unique giftedness will always be indispensable in the work of the church. Christ’s blood ensures it. Do you believe that? Serve.

—Pastor Clif