My purple pencil crayon (colored pencil for those in the U.S.) has been pretty busy over the past couple of mornings. I use it to underline verses on obedience or to underline commandments to be obeyed. As I continue to work through Deuteronomy, the importance of obedience is stressed over and over again . . . and the number of commands to “be careful to do” are many. It was imperative to knowing the blessing of God that God’s people should “walk after the LORD your God and fear Him and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him” (Deut. 13:4). But the “command to obey” that stuck out this morning wasn’t found in Deuteronomy but uncovered in Romans 12. Not one of the “biggies” by some estimations, perhaps . . . but one that is vital for the health of the church and, I think, for the well being of the believer.

For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them . . .   (Romans 12:4-6a ESV)

“Let us use them” . . . that’s it . . . that’s the command . . . “let us use them.”

“Them” . . . referring to the gifts given us according to the grace of God . . . abilities, talents, passions, enablings of the Spirit of God . . . that’s “them.” Gifts given of God . . . gifts seeded, nurtured, developed by the grace of God . . . gifts intended not for our possession but to be shared.

“Let us” . . . referring to . . . well, us! Members of the body of Christ . . . members of one another. Those called to offer their bodies as living sacrifices to the God of their salvation as an act of “spiritual worship” (12:1). Those encouraged to not overrate themselves, but also not to underrate themselves, but to think with “sober judgment” (12:3) . . . recognizing that God has begun a work in us which, in part, is to be leveraged for others.

“Use” . . . a verb . . . an action word . . . a “get off the bench and into the game” type of term. Let us, the redeemed . . . take them, the graced giftings of God . . . and use them . . . put them in motion . . . share them with others . . . move from the dormant to the dynamic . . . let us use them.

Whether it’s “up front” stuff like preaching and teaching . . . or the “one-on-one” stuff like serving and encouraging . . . what God has given us as part of His makeover in our lives, is to be used within the context of the body of believers. It’s the stuff upon which healthy churches are built . . . humble believers using their grace-apportioned gifts amongst one another. It’s the stuff that connects members with other members . . . the stuff that turns Sunday gatherings from meetings into family reunions . . . the stuff that God uses to build up His people . . . the stuff, quite frankly, that creates a huge “jazz factor” within “dispensers of grace” as they realize the out-of-this-world dynamic of God’s Spirit working through them to minister to others.

Nike says, “Just do it!” . . . the Spirit of God through Paul says, “Just use them!”

Oh, that God’s people would be quick to obey such a simple command. It’s not about what we think we have that ability to do . . . but about what God has already graced us with and what He wants to do through us. It’s not about being someone else . . . it’s about being who God has made us and gifted us to be and willingly sharing what we have with brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s not about what we can accomplish . . . but about what we can faithfully dispense, knowing that God will give the increase as He determines.

Yeah . . . underline it in purple . . . mine, quite simply, is to just use them . . . by His grace . . . for His glory . . .