OCTOBER 2
“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us....” - Romans 12:4-8
One evening more than 100,000 spectators jammed into the Los Angeles Coliseum, taught themselves an unforgettable lesson. The city was holding a pageant to honour it's war heroes. 
Silence fell as a mock battle scene drove home the futility of war, and the seeming helplessness of humanity. Only the voice of the Master of Ceremonies could be heard, saying in a clear, resonant voice: “Perhaps you sometimes say to yourself, 'My job isn't important – I'm just a cleaner or shop-worker. I'm a nobody really.' But you're wrong. The most obscure person can be very important. Let me show you what I mean,” he said, and raising his hand he signalled. With that, the giant searchlights were shut down – the arena was plunged into total darkness. Then the MC struck a match, and in the darkness the flame glowed for all to see.
“Now you can see the importance of one little light,” said the MC. “Suppose we all strike a light.” Instantly almost 100,000 flickering pinpoints of light illuminated the arena. An audible gasp was heard as the spectators grasped the point of the illustration – that it is within the power of each single individual to light a candle in this world of uncertainty. No-one is worthless, no matter how menial our position, or lowly our status. All are needed.
“Who me, needed? You're joking, I'm not needed. There are plenty of others who are far more able than me!” We've probably all felt that way at sometime, but according to the Bible, we shouldn't. The Apostle Paul explained it clearly in Romans 12:4 – re-read our scripture verses. The question , is what's your part? - what's mine? The answer is simple; our part is to love and serve God, other people, and take care of those we love – both inside and outside of the church we may attend. And we do this by using the unique gifts God has given to each one.
None of us is perfect, but then, neither were Jesus' disciples. You may think you don't have any gifts. But stop and think about what you do every day – you mothers, cleaners, shop-workers, carers, drivers and labourers. Break your tasks down, then see if you still say you have no skills or gifts!
Never say you are not needed. I think this text in 1 Corinthians 12:21-23 says it all: “The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I don't need you!' And the head cannot say to the feet, 'I don't need you!' On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honourable we treat with special honour.”
Using our God-given gifts isn't about us. It's about doing what we can to change the world around us for the better, and giving back to Jesus who went as far as giving His life....for us.
Bryn has come up with a 'blast from his past' for our song choice today – Hank Marvin Snr., singing “I Saw The Light.”
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Housekeeping details for you
The point of this short blog will become clear if you decide to use this reading in the way we intend it. Netherfield Seventh-day Adventist Church believes in healthy churches. You can see what that means if you head to the relevant Healthy Churches page of the website. We also want other churches to be healthy. That means you can join in our campaign to create healthy churches, with healthy people serving the people in those churches.
A healthy church is one where Jesus comes first. A healthy church is one where the people work together to put Jesus first. One thing we are doing is to join people together to spread that news. I would like you to look at our prayer partners page. This will explain how we want you to use this short devotional. Very basically we want you to find a like-minded Christian friend who you will join with to : choose to pray together every day, decide together on a way to serve other people together, to help them grow as Christians - and to invite the Holy Spirit into your life every day. This blog that you will receive every day simply gives a common spiritual purpose. If you are a newcomer and want to join the blog with this object in mind click here
