Apr 19 - 35 - Ephesians 4:11

The gifts he gave were

that some would be apostles,

some prophets, some evangelists,

some pastors and teachers

Ephesians 4:11

Bible Rank: 35

Spiritual gifts. Spiritual roles. Spiritual callings. We're each given them. Why? As the next verse says: "to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ."

So, what is your calling? (And I would urge you, indeed, to not pick just one calling, but to pick a percentage of each of these roles as you serve in the kingdom! -- for example, "I'm 15% apostle, 22% prophet, etc.")

So how much of you is an apostle? Did you ever notice that while Jesus was on earth, Jesus closest followers were called "disciples," but after the resurrection his twelve closest followers were called "apostles"? "Disciple" means "student, learner, apprentice." "Apostle" means "sent." Therefore, in what ways are you called to take all that you have learned, and go out -- be sent -- and proclaim the good news to others?

And how much of you is a prophet? This is not asking, "how much of you it's like Elijah for Isaiah?" This is asking how bold are you willing to be in speaking the truth to a society that doesn't want to hear truth. You don't have to have a booming voice from the sky giving you messages to say to be a prophet. Rather, we are all called to proclaim God's truth from God's word. God's word, indeed, is a booming voice from above!

And how much of you is an evangelist? Being an evangelist doesn't have to mean standing a street corners and bellowing Good News that doesn't sound so good when it's blatant and loud. Rather, it can be gentle whispers of good news to hurting friends. Nevertheless, we are all called to be evangelists. 

And how much of you is a pastor? Pastor is a shepherding term. We are called to care for the sheep in our nearby fields. We are called to care for the sick, the grieving, the lonely, depressed.

And how much of you is a teacher? The common excuse is that, "I don't know enough." Yes, good teachers should be prepared. But most teachers will tell you that often they learn as they go! Don't make excuses and don't be afraid to learn as you go. 

So what percentages are you as you respond to God's call "to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ."

In Christ's Love,

a guy whose measurements

are 20-16-12-20-32