{"id":22518,"date":"2018-02-27T00:05:58","date_gmt":"2018-02-27T08:05:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=22518"},"modified":"2018-02-23T12:06:37","modified_gmt":"2018-02-23T20:06:37","slug":"february-27-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2018\/02\/27\/february-27-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"February 27, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cThere are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.\u201d<\/em> 1 Corinthians 12:5-6<\/p>\n

Our Differences<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I well remember my junior high years (now called middle school). My friends and I spent much time and energy being as alike one another as possible. In fact, the whole school had a large population of look-alike girls. We all had long, straight hair, parted in the middle. Our dresses were as short as we could get away with when we walked out the door of our homes. We liked the same boys; we listened to the same music; we all used the same expressive words. Groovy, man!<\/p>\n

My mom and I had different ideas about how a young teen girl should dress and talk. For that reason, I never exactly fit in with the most popular girls, but I did have a nice group of friends. The day I joined the pep squad, I was as happy as I could be. One day a week, Football Fridays, the squad all wore the same skirts, blouses, and socks\u2014navy blue and gold. Once a week, I fit in perfectly. The rest of the week, however, we all knew the hierarchy among the girls, and we each knew our place in it.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve talked to enough women in the church to know that we often think others are \u201cabove\u201d us. Closer to God. Worthy. More gifted, more loved, more spiritual. Sometimes we think we should emulate them; other times we feel so inadequate, we don\u2019t bother to get to know them.<\/p>\n

We need to see the truth. When Jesus called His disciples, He knew what the future held for them. He knew the place He prepared for them to minister and serve. He knew their personalities.<\/p>\n

Peter was called when he was casting his net into the sea to catch fish (Matthew 4:18). He became a fisher of men\u2014a great evangelist, outgoing, brash, bringing 3,000 to Christ in his first sermon.<\/p>\n

John was called not while casting nets, but while mending nets (Matthew 4:21). He became a close, beloved friend of Jesus. He was more humble and contemplative, and ended up writing books about loving God and loving one another.<\/p>\n

The other disciples had their differences too, of course. But their similarities were that they were called by Jesus, answered the call, followed Him, and went on to fulfill God\u2019s will for kingdom work.<\/p>\n

It is the same for us today. Different ministries, different activities, but the same Lord, the same God, working in it all.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s not be like Peter, who (in John 21) asked Jesus just before His ascension, \u201cWhat about John?\u201d<\/em> Jesus was not okay with that question. John\u2019s life (or death, in this case) was none of Peter\u2019s concern. Peter was to be concerned only with following Jesus in his own life, doing what he personally had been called to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cLord, help us not to compare ourselves, our lives, or the outworking of our ministries, to others. Help us be faithful to the place and plan You have prepared for each of us. Amen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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