The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Corinthians 12:4-7, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.

6 And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.

7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

Why is it that when we both trusted Jesus at the same time, he finds it easier to lead people to Christ than I do? I try to live like Jesus would have me to live, but I’m just not as effective in leading others as is my friend.

Paul answers that question in the four verses above. First, not every believer in Jesus has been given the same spiritual gift. Not every woman is a good cook; not every man is a good driver. Some people draw exceedingly well; others can’t draw a straight line with a ruler. I am a good driver, but I sure can’t draw! Why is this? We simply have different talents. It’s the same with spiritual matters. Some people can just approach anyone and get immediately into the Gospel. Others, get tounge-tied and stutter and stammer all over the place. We might say that our talents come to us via our parents’ DNA. But when it comes to spiritual gifts, ministries are clearly assigned to us by the LORD.

Some people are called to preach; others have the ministry of business, and are enabled to support pastors. Some minister as missionaries on foreign soil; others are called to pray excessively for those missionaries.

This is what Paul means when he says, “there are a variety of ministries.” Not everyone is called to do the same thing, yet is is the LORD “who works all things in all persons.”

We are never to be envious of what others do. We are just to do what the LORD calls us to do! Henry Ford was the first to develop and use an “assembly line” for producing automobiles. Some men installed one thing; other men installed other things. If they had all done exactly the same work, the car would never been built. So it is with spiritual matters. The LORD has a job and a place of service for each of us.

The men, who work on the assembly line are all paid for what others do as well. If cars were never built, no one is advantaged. So it is with spiritual matters. We have different ministries, but all work together to lead others to Christ and teach them His Word, producing something that is good for everyone.

What is your spiritual gift? Where is your spiritual ministry? Commitment to Christ means allowing His will to be done in your life, at all times, for His glory! Is this true of you? Don’t endeavor to assign yourself something you just want to do. Ask the LORD what He wants you to do and where He wants you to do it. He will lead you into the rich fields of harvest, in order that the scores of lost, Hell-bent people might hear the Good News and turn in faith to Christ. Blessings will then aboud! –all this, and Heaven, too! God bless you as you minister where you are.

Praying for you is a ministry for us,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”