Praying About Your Role in the Body of Christ
By Craig von Buseck & Lisa Wentland

Charles Finney wrote about our position within the local church -- and about the importance of understanding true spirituality. "Some dear souls do not realize that there is such a thing as mundane spiritual activity and aggressiveness," he declared. "True spirituality implies true faith that is in sympathy with Christ, and true Christianity is always and necessarily the spirit of missions, of revival, and of self-sacrifice."

"It is a living, energizing principle that holiness in man is just what it was in Christ. Holiness is always one and the same thing -- benevolence or goodwill -- and by a law of its own nature is continually putting forth efforts to realize its great end: the highest good to all. True Christianity is the law of love written in the heart by the Holy Spirit and acted out in practical life."

"The mistake of many people is that they do not distinguish between faith that consists in a persuasion of the intellect, accompanied by a corresponding state of feeling -- without assent of the heart or will, and faith by which the heart or will fully yields to perceived and admitted truth. Faith must be of the heart or will to be a powerful and active principle."

"The manner in which they expect and profess to be led by the Spirit seems to be that of impulse rather than divine illumination through the Word. They seem to think that the Spirit leads the people of God by impressions upon their sensibility or feelings rather than enlightening their intelligence and leading them to act rationally and in accordance with the written Word."

"True religion does not consist in obeying our feelings, but in conforming our heart to the law of our intelligence. God has given us reason, and requires us to understand what we are about. He has given us the written Word, and the Holy Spirit to illuminate it, to make us understand its great principles and the application of them to all the circumstances and duties of life."

"A true Christian is active, but his activity and energy arise out of a deep identification with the indwelling Spirit of Christ. Christ is formed within him; the Spirit of Christ is the energizing power of his soul."

ACTION POINT

Are you walking in the Spirit today? Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you -- not through some mystical feeling -- but by illuminating the Word of God that is planted in your heart? Are you exhibiting true Christianity as Finney described it: the law of love written in the heart by the Holy Spirit and acted out in practical life?

As you examine your role in the church, it is important to walk in humility. No matter what you do in your congregation, no one is indispensable and therefore more valuable than any other member is. It is important that you recognize the gifts God has given you and put them to use in the Body. Day 27 covered 1 Corinthians 12, which highlights spiritual gifts. Review that now and compare it to Romans 12. What gifts do you think God has given you? How can you use them to benefit the Body of Christ? Do not neglect your gifts, given to you by God for the enrichment of the Church, but allow God to use them to touch people with the love of Christ.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, I want to be used by you to touch a lost world with the love of God. I don't want to be led by my feelings, but by your Holy Spirit. Help me to have my senses exercised to discern your voice -- as your Word promises, solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:14).

Help me to use the spiritual and natural gifts that you have given me to display the law of love among my brothers and sisters in my local church -- and in my community.

cbn