Commissioned: Passion to Purpose: Living the Great CommissionSample

In Our Right Mind

One of the greatest basketball teams ever was the Boston Celtics, anchored by Bill Russell. They were the classic example of a team comprising players with very different strengths who each played their role—shot-blocking, rebounding, ball-handling or shooting. Russell was the team leader, although he was not the leading scorer. Teammate Bob Cousy said about Russell, “He didn’t care about personal glory, never spent a second even thinking about that. Everything was team. Team, team, team.”

The apostle Paul sounds like a coach as he tells the believers in Rome not to think too highly of themselves but to play their part as members of one body. We are all commissioned to share Jesus with others. Still, each one does it in their own way- one by powerful prophetic speaking, another by faithfully serving in a ministry, another by encouraging people, another by giving generously, and another by doing acts of mercy. We are free to be ourselves in showing God’s love and sharing His word. Each of us is unique.

Paul asks us to “think soberly” about our differences. The Greek word translated “soberly” (sophroneo) means to be in one’s right mind, not to think crazy thoughts. We are not in our right minds when we think we are better than others because of what we do to serve Jesus. We are also not in our right mind when we think that our contribution is less significant than someone else's.

Each of us has been given unique gifts of grace to serve others. The important thing is that we exercise the gifts we have been given. As the apostle Paul says, “Since we have been given gifts…, let us exercise them!” God, the master craftsman, is not at work in our lives to make us into beautiful instruments that hang on the wall! He wants to play us like a symphony that makes beautiful music for the world. When we know we have talents to offer, let’s actively look for ways to use those talents to serve others.

The theme of unity in diversity is so important because it is at the heart of all reality. God Himself is a Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—unity in diversity. He is a loving community of persons. God wants His people to be a loving community—unity in diversity. When we work together to show the love of God—with all our differences—we show the world something very important: Loving community is at the heart of reality. When we allow our differences as Christians to divide us, we give a distorted picture of what God is like. Remember, it’s not about me, it’s about the team!

Stop, think and pray:

What gifts have I been given to use in serving others? How can I use these gifts more often or more effectively? Do I think too highly of myself because of the gifts I have been given? Do I compare myself to others and think less of myself in some areas? Do I have broken relationships with anyone because of jealousy or competition? Let's ask for the searchlight of God’s Spirit, ask for His forgiveness, and plan how we can change our thinking and way of living.