“There
are different kinds of utensils, but the same One doing the cooking. There are
different cooking methods, but the same Chef. There are lots of different
recipes, but the same Grill Master works all of them for everyone’s enjoyment…
The grill is a unit, though it is made up of many parts. And though there is
this variety of form and purpose, all the parts together form one grill. This
is the way it is with Christ. It’s like this: the Spirit is the Assembler who
took all of us and put us together into one working grill, whether our
background is Jewish or Gentile, dependent or independent – the Assembler’s
fingerprints are all over us. Now the grill is not made up of one part, but of
many. If the wheel should say, ‘Because I am not the cooking grid, I do not
belong to the grill,’ it would not for that reason cease to be a part of the
grill. And if a control knob should say, ‘Because I am not a burner, I do not
belong to the grill,’ it would not for that reason cease to be part of the grill.
If the whole grill were a burner, where would the propane tank be? And if the
whole grill was a propane tank, where would the grease tray be? But in fact the
Grill Designer has arranged and assembled the parts in the grill, every one of
them, just as He wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the
useable grill be? As it is, there are many parts, but one grill. The propane
tank can’t say to the warming rack, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the lid cannot say
to the wheels, ‘I don’t need you!’ On the contrary, those parts of the grill
that seem to be insignificant are very important, and the parts that seem so
common and not that big a deal – like screws – we give special attention to
because they are very important. And the parts that get dirty and smelly we may
not always want to display, but we don’t think of other parts as being more
important. The Grill Master wants all the parts to work together perfectly –
each doing its own thing: what it was made to do. If one part rusts or breaks or
fails in some way, the grill isn’t everything it could be. But if everything is
put together right, and works correctly – each part doing its job – some awesome
and beautiful meals are prepared by and for the Grill Master. Now you are the ‘grill’
of Christ, and each one of you is part of it.”
I
received a new grill for Christmas and, due to the cool spring and some other
factors, haven’t used it yet. My son Connor assembled it for me last week after
several months of just being stored in the shed (the grill, not Connor). It
wasn’t doing anyone any good there, in unassembled condition. But now everything
is tested and prepared for doing what the grill was designed to do – start
cooking. There is one tiny thing missing, however. On the lid there is a part
still needed. It’s just a small, relatively insignificant rubber part called a
hood bumper stop. There are supposed to be two of these – one on each side of
the lid, so it can rest evenly on the grill body when closed. Can we still cook
without it? Yes. But I want my other hood bumper stop, and I’m going to get it.
The grill was designed with its purpose in mind and I want it to be right. I
want the lid to rest evenly and not let heat escape unnecessarily. So I am
waiting for my little hood bumper stop to arrive.
Every
person in our church is important. Each one has been designed by God with His
purpose in mind, to the end of His glory and honor. When a member doesn’t
function according to His will and plan, others are impacted – usually in a
negative way. What we are in the Body (or grill) of Christ matters to the Body
and to the Lord. If you are a Christian, the Holy Spirit has equipped you with
gifts, abilities, passions, personality, and experiences that are useful to the
Lord and the Body. You have been made by Him and have the privilege to
experience great joy in being available to Him for whatever use He has in mind
for you. That joy will become a joy to others as well. And your joy in the Lord
will be a foundation of praise to Him. The Lord wants you, whether prominent or
“hidden”. He wants you in place to serve Him. May our prayer be, “Lord, I’m
ready… start cooking!”
Romans 12:4-10 (NIV) 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these
members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we
who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We
have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is
prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If
it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if
it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of
others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern
diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. 9 Love
must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be
devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
PRAYER: Father, thank you that you have a purpose for
me. Your plan is carried out in me and through me every day. May your will be
done, and not my own. Open my eyes to see that I am not a “lone ranger”
Christian. I am a part of Christ’s Body. Lead me to faithfulness in response to
your calling and equipping. Thank you for assembling me together with others
for much that is so much greater than I could ever aspire to or experience
alone. Lead me to love the Church – the redeemed and called of God who are
saved by Christ. Take joy in your church, and be glorified in us. Thank you. In
Jesus’ name, AMEN.”
Jesus
Christ is Lord!
Scott
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