How was your Bible time this morning? Mine was, well, out of this world. I spent time in Romans 12 looking at Paul's list of spiritual gifts in verses 6-8. It goes like this:
- Prophesying
- Serving
- Teaching
- Encouraging
- Giving
- Leading
- Showing mercy
Interestingly, none of these gifts is defined or even described for us. So we're sort of left to ourselves to come up with adequate definitions. For what it's worth, here's how I would define "teaching":
"The gift of teaching is the God-given ability to explain the Scriptures with competence, clarity, and conviction."
This is my calling in life. It is my gifting, if you will. Many of you can identify with this gifting as well. You are teachers. Always have been. Always will be. No, you did not choose this gift. But you did discover it and then develop it. Fact is, you wouldn't want to do anything else with your life.
Later on in the chapter Paul adds that we are not to avoid being around what he calls "ordinary people." I like that, because in the final analysis all of us are ordinary people. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. So, Paul says, don't be too proud to enjoy the company of, well, anyone. Teacher friend, everyone knows you're a well-taught person. Don't act like it, okay? Don't strut your knowledge. I'll even be so bold as to say, take down those silly diplomas hanging on your office wall. Nobody cares about them except you. Why not replace them with a picture of you and your wife? Now that's something people can get into! Don't be surprised when they ask, "Oh, is that your wife? She's lovely. Where did you two meet?" Now that's much more interesting! When you're laid in the grave, are people going to be standing around reciting all the fancy titles you've earned? Or are they going to stand around giving testimonies about all you meant in their lives and all the good things you did for them? Will they list your degrees or your awards or will they tell what a blessing you were to them? You don't have to have a certain rank in the body of Christ to count. There's no status. And so we have room for just ordinary people. I even like the way Paul adds, "Don't think you know it all." Amen to that!
Anyway, just a few thoughts from my time in the Scriptures this morning.
I'm no prodigy. I'm a drudge. If I've learned anything from my study of the word of God through the years, it's not because I'm smart but because I'm dogged, disciplined, and determined. You can be too.
