I’m not sure if this is a popular thought: I really enjoy living in the Northeast. I love all the seasons, especially Autumn. My wife and I so enjoy driving our Yamaha through the Berkshires, the Helderbergs, the Adirondacks and the Green Mountains. The colors of the Fall foliage are just amazing! The way they flow together is simply beautiful.
The lovely tapestry of color reminds me of a teaching done long ago by Rev. Donald Mostrom, founder of Renewal Prayer Network. He taught on 1 Peter 4:10. “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
The word “varied” can also be translated “manifold”, the same word used in Genesis to describe Joseph's coat of “many colors”. The varied gifts of Grace represent different hues, or colors. When each of us in the Body of Christ uses his gifts, the gifts given by God to serve one another, He paints a beautiful portrait.
In John 17, Jesus prayed for our unity, that we may be one as He and the Father are one. Then the world would believe He was sent. When we use the gifts as God planned, serving each other, (could it really be?), He paints an amazing portrait of Himself for all the world to see. It is a portrait of the Father so clear, so amazing, so beautiful, that those who don’t know Him are drawn to Him!
UNITY PRAYER: Lord use us. Use the manifold gifts of grace You’ve given us to paint the portrait of Yourself that shows the world Your glory.