Dear Fellow Children of God,

The other day I needed to find my new doctors to get my ankle looked over. I had no idea where they were or how to get there. So, it was off to the internet and the phone’s GPS. Sure enough, they led me right to where I needed to be. I’m always amazed by this technology and how well it guides me because I also know how many different things and people it takes to make this “ordinary” tool work. You see, one of my Air Force assignments was working with GPS satellites. Getting the signal to your phone is routine, but not simple – it takes many people and systems to get you where you want to be. If any part of this complex system goes astray, you might find yourself somewhere, but not where you desire to be.

This is a good picture of God’s church. God desires to lead us to say and believe “Jesus is Lord” (1 Corinthians 12:3). Through the Holy Spirit, God provides His church – all God’s children, you and me included – with many different skills and abilities. He does this for one chief reason; that we might use those skills and abilities in our vocations, collectively as His church, to bring others to join us in saying, “Jesus is Lord” (1 Corinthians 12:4,11).

God provides all His children with a certain number of spiritual gifts. The gifts are different and in varying amounts. Nobody has the whole “tool kit” of gifts. But collectively, all the tools are there. What’s more, though we may think we’re inadequate to use the gifts we’re given, we aren’t. God promises “(we) are empowered by … (the) Spirit” to use these gifts. When we come together and let the Spirit guide us in the use of our gifts … When we trust God’s will for us … through us, He will lead others to say, “Jesus is Lord” alongside us. He will lead us to where He desires us to be – in His eternal heavenly kingdom with Him.

                                   In Christ’s Love,

                                                                                                        Pastor Jim