Picture Perfect Performance

Romans 12:4-5

Just as each of us has one body with many members,
and these members do not all have the same function,
so in Christ we who are many form one body,
and each member belongs to all the others.

“Food glorious food…Oom-Paa-Paa…I shall scream, Yes I shall scream!” are just some of the lyrics that have been hummed by our family over the past two months as our eldest daughter (just seven and a half) prepared for her part as an orphan in our high school’s production of Oliver Twist. Considering her age, we assumed she would have a small walk-on role, sing a few lines, and scurry off back stage. By the second rehearsal, it became clear this was not the case, as she belted out every word and captured every expression, entirely uninhibited!

Uninhibited. That is what set my daughter apart from the others during these early rehearsals. She didn’t hold back and never once was concerned with what others thought of her abilities. Yet as I watched many of the teenagers, I could quickly spot the ones that were holding back with uncertainty and lack of confidence. I could picture little bubble clouds over their heads with the captions, “What will they think of me? Am I doing it well enough? But I can’t hit that note? What if I look silly?”

It wasn’t until closing night that the entire cast radiated as the bubble clouds of discouragement disappeared! They were finally enjoying their performance! They knew their lines and felt their cues, or had enough experience to improvise as needed! As a well-oiled machine, they energetically pushed ahead for the grand finale celebration!

I walked away from this stage-mom experience feeling as though I witnessed a picture of the body of Christ fully at work. We are one body in Christ, but we have many, many parts. Just like this theater production, each one of us has a different part to play, with a unique set of experiences, training, and abilities preparing us for our role. Unfortunately, most of us are afraid to explore our God-given gifts and feel insecure by our lack of experience. We hold back out of fear of what others may think. We’re busy focusing on ourselves and our own perceived limitations.
Romans 12:6-8

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.

If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.
If it is serving, let him serve;
if it is teaching, let him teach;
if it is encouraging, let him encourage;
if it is contributing to the needs of others,
let him give generously;
if it is leadership, let him govern diligently;
if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

As Christians, we have a perfect Director casting our production in the body of Christ. We need not worry about the significance of the role we play, and instead we need to let go and let God work through us without getting in the way of the performance. Practically speaking, how many times do we see a friend preparing a meal, leading a Bible study, serving in children’s ministry, running a youth group, and think, “Well, they have the gift to do that and so, I’m not needed…” or “…my gift isn’t nearly as good as theirs, so I’ll just pass this time.” But is that really true?

Imagine there was only one makeup artist serving the Oliver cast of 90 (yes, there were over 90 teenagers backstage and the theater is still standing!)? Talk about being overwhelmed! But instead, there were over a half a dozen makeup artists working fiercely for at least two hours before curtain call and throughout the production. All of them were needed. All of them shared the same gift yet it manifested itself uniquely each time it was applied. And ALL of their work was incredibly appreciated by the audience and performers, and critical to the success of the production.

Oh, can’t you just imagine the glorious performance we would experience, if only we would step out in uninhibited faith and confidence in the Lord with the spiritual gifts He has bestowed on each of us! We are all needed in the body of Christ. Some of us will share similar gifts, yet they are all necessary! Let us not hold back! Instead, let us explore the joy of using the gifts God has graced us with for the blessing of others in the body of Christ.

Heavenly Father, I pray you will make clear to each one of us the gifts you’ve graced our lives with and how we can use them for your glory. May we apply them with uninhibited confidence and for the sake of the unity and wholeness in the body of Christ!

Share With Us:

What are your spiritual gifts? How can you put them to use today? What is your biggest insecurity when it comes to your role in the body of Christ? What Biblical truth can put that fear to rest?

For His Glory,