The scene was a familiar one. The young couple were going over their monthly bills. In it were ones from the drug store, department store, oil company, etc. Trying to find something humorous to say in the situation, the man quipped, "Isn't it a good thing that God doesn't send bills?"
That is good, isn't it? But what if He just decided to bill us for this wonderful body He has given us? The Psalmist said, "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psa_139:14). Shakespeare said, "What a piece of work is man!" Think about what God has made:
THE EARS: A piano has 88 keys, but each of your ears has a keyboard with 1500 keys. They are so finely tuned that you can hear the blood running through your vessels. The outside of your ear can catch up to 73,700 vibrations per second.
THE EYES: They are both microscopes and telescopes. They can gaze into the heavens and see a star millions of miles away, or inspect the smallest insect.
THE FEET: Did you know that each foot has 26 bones, none of which is wider than your thumb? But it is so "manufactured" (arched) with its ligaments, tendons, muscles and joints that a 300-pound man can put all his weight on these tiny bones.
THE HEART: Its size is about like your fist, but pumps (beats) 4,320 times an hour. In a year that would mean 40 million beats. A drop of blood can make a round trip in your circulatory system in only 22 seconds.
What if God sent you a bill for this marvelous body we live in?
Let’s take this one step further. God has given us other gifts. We call them "Spiritual Gifts". There are actually three biblical lists of the "gifts of the Spirit," also known as spiritual gifts. The three main passages describing the spiritual gifts are Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; and 1 Corinthians 12:28. The spiritual gifts identified in Romans 12 are prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership, and mercy. The list in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 includes the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues. The list in 1 Corinthians 12:28 includes healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
Within these verses are listed 20 unique and special Spiritual Gifts. Not every believer is given them all, although we should be seeking them all operating in our lives. Each of these Spiritual Gifts has its own purpose but they all have some things in common. They function within and through a believer to accomplish a specific job or task God has chosen that particular person to perform for His glory. Spiritual Gifts are designed and function to edify God. Spiritual Gifts are also designed to lift up and encourage not only the believer they are functioning in but the whole Body of Christ. When Spiritual Gifts are actively being manifested in believers lives and in the body of believers as a whole, we physically as well as spiritually feel and see God in action within our lives.
The fact that the operation of Spiritual Gifts in our lives benefits us personally, it’s the reality that they benefit Christ’s Church and its members (believers), more. And yet above this, when Spiritual Gifts are actively in operation within believers individually and corporately, Praise, Glory, Honor and Edification is lifted up to God. What makes the Spiritual Gifts God that gives so great is that they are all freely given to all who seek them, but:
What if God sent you a bill for the Spiritual Gifts He gives Us?
Between our Physical Bodies, the Spiritual Gifts God gives, and our Salvation through Christ, what kind of dollar figure do you think that would rack up to? Personally, I wouldn’t even try to figure it up. It’s incalculable anyway and if a figure could possibly be placed on it, how would we ever be able to pay the bill?
Thanks be to God that He doesn't send us bills. He just loves us and takes care of us. Can we do any less than to return His love? We show Him our love by obedience to His Word and by faithful stewardship of that which He has entrusted to us and reaching out to those in need as Matt. 25:35-40 tells us to do.
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