EYES ON THE CROSS!
We have different gifts. Romans 12:6
I don’t have the strongest, most effective voice for singing in the choir. Many times I’ve been tempted to quit. But often someone will stop me after church to say, “The choir was beautiful. Thank you!” That’s when I realize that singing in the choir is not about my voice, but about the Spirit at work.
All those afternoons spent going over soprano, alto, tenor and bass parts and getting all the voices to sing in harmony come together to produce worship-enhancing music in praise of Christ, our Savior.
In a similar way, our gifts, talents, and abilities are most effective when we use them in harmony with the giftedness of others. Everyone’s contribution adds to the texture, tone, and richness God intended when he blessed His Church with different gifts.
The possibilities all sound so beautiful, don’t they? We long for the reality. But far too often we turn God’s good gifts into a reason for disharmony. We compare our gifts to those of others. We envy gifts we deem of higher worth than our own. We resent it when others do not give us the recognition we feel we deserve. Some of us suppose our gifts too small to matter and excuse ourselves from serving. This disharmony sours the sweet sound God desires to hear from His people.
In rehearsals, choir directors frequently remind singers to keep “all eyes on me.” Similarly, as we serve in Christ’s Church, we hear our heavenly Father saying, “Keep all eyes on the cross of my Son!” Looking there, we’re embraced by the love of Christ and assured in the forgiveness it offers. Our disharmony melts away as our focus shifts from ourselves to Him. Whatever our God-given gifts, each of us is privileged to be among those graced by His calling to work for the strengthening and growth of His Church.
With your eyes on Christ’s cross, let your work and the work of others around you rise to the heavens as a hymn of beauty, joy and harmony!