I Corinthians 12

OK. It is nearing the end of the work week (for some of you) and we need to loosen up a little. Come one Everyone! Let's do the HOKEY POKEY!

You put your right hand in. You put your right hand out. You put your right hand in and you shake it all about!

(some of you are doing this in your cubicles right now. Don't sing too loudly, though)

You do the Hokey Pokey and you turn your self around (this is where your office chair comes in handy)!

That what it's all about!

OK. Sit down now and see how many of your co-workers are looking at you.

Believe it or not, the Bible has something to say about the Hokey Pokey. Go to I Corinthians 12 and read about the parts of the body. In verse 14 we read: Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of small be?

Now the key part is next, here is verse 18: But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

Each of us poses the gifts that God has given us. Some are meant to be teachers, some have the gift of healing, others have the gift of administration, some are helpers, some gifted in listening, others are gifted in study and preaching. No one gift is more important than the others as all are needed and used by God to further his kingdom.

We spoke about work the past few days. Again, God is calling us to use our gifts in His kingdom. You may have an occupation, that is, a job that brings in money. But everyone has a vocation, a special calling. It is a wonderful thing when your occupation and vocation match up, but that is not always the case. Many of us lead that "double life" of both occupation and vocation.

In faith, serving God by using our gifts, that is what He asks of those who call him Lord. And in the great words of the Hokey Pokey, "That's what it's all about!"

May you serve with great joy.

Mark