Bound Together in Christ

Assuring Hope
Jesus, the Promised Servant-leader

Romans 12:3-8 (The Message)
 ³I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.
 ^4-6In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't.
 ^6-8If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.

For Reflection
We live in the hollow of God's hand.  Paul says, "Living...in pure grace."  God's goodness, it seems, does not depend on our "enhancements of God."  Whodathunkit?

What we do for Him does not make him a better god, nor does it make us better followers.  As Christians we first give up the old guiding principle of self.  As Paul points out, the only way to understand our transformed or re-born selves is by what God does for us not what we do for him.  Takes the pressure off doesn't it?

We can relax and not worry about who we are in relation to others.  We can just be.  That, I think is what God wants.  Being a servant means playing your role even imperfectly.  God will perfect it.  It's that Grace we talk about that does it.

Pray
that God will take your imperfect action and an use it perfectly to the glory of His Kingdom.  Pray that you will continue humbly at Jesus side listening to His praise and His gently correction.  Pray for patience.  Pray to expect nothing in return for your service.  Pray to be surprised at God's grace flowing through you.