Ephesiansনমুনা

As we continue this journey in Ephesians, we come to a very prominent place in scripture. This passage contains what many people refer to as the five-fold ministry gifts. Notice the number 5 is used to illustrate the fingers on a hand. The hand is often meant to symbolize work being done, and these gifts are described here as being used for the work of building or serving the Church. Consider how this imagery works with that of verse 4 in how we are all “one body.”

While there are many different interpretations of what the five-fold ministry gifts mean, the basic idea is that all of us somehow fit into one of these five categories when it comes to serving our local church and the global Church as a whole. However, we need not look at these as specific titles that we wish to obtain or statuses that we boast about but rather as spaces that we can occupy. The Church needs each one of these specific types of people to flourish. We cannot extend care without pastors. We cannot reach the lost without evangelists. We cannot plant churches without apostles, and so on. The purpose of the Church cannot be fulfilled without this collaboration of gifts and personalities.

Similarly, the Lord wants to partner with us and our gifts to accomplish His mission and, in turn, help us live life to the fullest. Maybe there’s been times when you looked at yourself and you felt that there’s no place in the church for someone like you. Or maybe, you’ve felt like what you’re good at doesn’t fit with living a Christian life. I know I’ve felt that way before. It can sometimes seem like there’s no place for the person who gets nervous about meeting new people; or the person who has trouble with public speaking; or the person who isn’t musically gifted. Where do these people belong?

You may be asking yourself that question today. Where do I belong? Let this passage encourage you. The first couple of verses reiterates the fact that Jesus descended into our world. He entered our space. In other words, He met us where we were. Sometimes we can get in our heads and convince ourselves that God doesn’t want to partner with us to accomplish anything, or that even if He wanted to, He couldn’t. But I want to reassure you that there is a place for everyone at the table. God’s Kingdom is full of people who lived on the fringes of society; who cringed at the idea of talking to someone; who couldn’t deliver a presentation at work; who couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket! Let’s be encouraged today that no matter what our gifts or talents may be, we have a place and we belong in the Kingdom of God.

Prayer Points

• Meditate (spend some time in silence and thought) on the goodness of God. He sees you the way you are and loves you regardless of your gifts or talents.
• Thank God for the way He made you. Try to find a reason to be thankful for who YOU are.
• Pray and ask God to help you see your worth regardless of what you’re good at.
• Pause for a bit and let the Holy Spirit respond.