Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

JUNE 24
WEDNESDAY


POSTPONEMENT
PROBLEMS

READ:
Romans 12:4-13
___________________________________________

We have many
members in one body,
but all the members do
not have the same
function.
__Romans 12:4-12
____________________________________________

Many of us struggle with them-- postponement problems. A professor at the University of Calgary in Alberta studied the problem of procrastination for 5 years and reported that 95 percent of us put off doing one thing or another. One estimate showed that Americans lose approximately $400 million a year by putting off filing taxes! Because of fear of failure or other insecurities, we wait and wait before starting a project or making a decision.

Procrastination is a problem in the church too. Many of us postpone serving God. We know we should reach out to others, but we feel insecure or worried about what to do. Because we're unsure of our gifts or interests, we put off our involvement in the church. We worry, What if I do a poor job? what if I find out I can't even do it?

Romans 12 gives us some encouragement. Serving starts with presenting ourselves to God as "a living sacrifice" (v.1). Pray and give yourself anew to the Lord and His work. Then look around at what others are doing in your church and ask if you can join in. Start small if you need to, and try a number of things.

Your church needs you. Ask God to help you overcome your postponement problems. __Anne Cetas
_____________________________________________________________

```````````````````````Don't put off for tomorrow````````````````
````````````````````````What you can do today;`````````````````
````````````````````Postponement may bring sorrow,`````````````
```````````````````Prompt action is the way. __Hess``````````````
_____________________________________________________________

For a healthier church,
exercise your spiritual gifts.

****************Today's Bible Reading __ Romans 12:4-12*********

4 For as we have many
members in one body, but
all the members do not have
the same function, 5 so we,
being many, are one body
in Christ, and individually
members of one another.

6 Having then gifts differing
according to the grace that
is given to us, let us use
them: if prophecy, let us
prophesy in proportion to
our faith; 7 or ministry, let
us use it in our ministering;
he who teaches, in teaching;

8 he who exhorts, in
exhortation; he who gives,
with liberality; he who
leads, with diligence; he
who shows mercy, with
cheerfulness.

9 Let love be without
hypocrisy. Abhor what is
evil. Cling to what is good.

10 Be kindly affectionate to
one another with brotherly
love, in honor giving
preference to one another;

11 not lagging in diligence,
fervent in spirit, serving the
Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope,
patient in tribulation,
continuing steadfastly in
prayer; 13 distributing to the
needs of the saints, given to
hospitality.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Some people say that there are four different listings of spiritual gifts
(Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:1-31; Eph. 4:11; 1 Peter 4:10-11). That no
two lists are identical indicate that each listing is not definitive or
exhaustive. Believers are to use these charismata or grace-gifts from
the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:7, 11; Eph. 4:7) to serve, strengthen, and edify
the believers and the church (Eph. 4:12; 1 Peter 4:10), and to be
controlled by the principle of love (1 cor. 13). SIM KAY TEE