Devotions Inspired By Beyond BlessedSample

HEAD, SHOULDERS, KNEES, AND TOES

by Jelani Lewis

Before I became a pastor, I played and coached college football. Now let me pause for a moment because when a person who is 5 feet, 6 inches, and 165 pounds at the time (married life has a way of adding pounds and muffin tops) claims to have graced the field turf as a wide receiver, the assumption is that they must have been fast. Wrong! I was able to play college ball not because I was fast, but because I was ... well ... scared. That’s right—scared. You see, my teammates ran for the end zone. I, on the contrary, was so small that I had to run for my life. 

One of the things you learn participating in any team sport is that each player has a specific role and for the team to be successful, everyone has to play their part. Now occasionally we find a lineman who desires to be a quarterback, the quarterback who wants to hit like a linebacker, or the linebacker who secretly fantasizes about water polo. However, at the end of the day, each team member understands that they have been uniquely wired, gifted, and built to fulfill a specific and vital function for the team. 

In Romans 12:4–6, the apostle Paul writes, “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.” In this passage, Paul is reminding us that as believers we are a part of the body of Christ. Like the hands, feet, and ears of a natural body, spiritually we each have a distinct function and unique gifts to be stewarded to serve one another. 

That being said, I know what some may be tempted to think. Sure. It’s easy for Paul to encourage someone to be a good steward and use their gifts to build up the body of Christ. Paul just happened to be a writer, a speaker, a miracle worker, a tentmaker, and an intellectual. He was extremely gifted! And, that’s easy for you to write, Pastor. You’re ... well ... a pastor. The great thing about this text, however, is that God is clearly not asking us to be Paul. He is not necessarily asking you to be a pastor. And he’s certainly not requiring any of us to be perfect. He is simply asking us to participate, to discover and steward the abilities and passions He placed inside of us, and to use them to build up His body.

PRAYER

God thank You for the gifts, talents, and abilities that You have placed inside me. Help me to discover what they are and give me the grace to embrace and play my role within this body. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

MEMORY VERSE

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. HEBREWS 13:17