Sunday, July 17, 2011

Are You a Missing Note?

By Charlotte Lowrie

Are you a missing note in the song of the Kingdom today?

I believe that God has orchestrated His believers so that each of us has a part, or a note, to play in the Kingdom song — the song or work that is playing or being accomplished at this moment in time. And for the song to be complete, every note is necessary.

I recently questioned my part in the song. As I looked at the plethora of accomplished photographers and writers, I wondered if I had anything to contribute to the song, or was I simply duplicating the same note that many others were already playing.

The Lord reminded me that many people are blessed with the same talents that I have, but they cannot do what I have been – and what you have been – singularly anointed to do in the Kingdom of God. The Lord reminded me that, “There is only one you. And only you can do what I have given you to do. Do what I have given you to do.”

This message is for every believer. The Kingdom song—the Kingdom work—is not complete without your unique note. No one else can play your note, for it is ours alone—your unique calling. And that’s what not only makes the song complete, but it is what makes a difference.

By way of example, there is only one person in the world that has my, or your, testimony. This is the unique story that God has given each of us. Part of our work in the Kingdom is to share our story with others. Another part of our work is to uniquely use the talents and gifts that God has given us to advance the Kingdom.

You may think that your talents and gifts are so small or insignificant that they would make no difference. Sometimes, and even often times, it’s hard to see what, if any, difference our work makes in the Kingdom. But seeing the difference we make is less important than faithfully serving the Lord with the talents and the gifts that we have received.

When Jesus commissioned the disciples, He told them to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and drive out demons. He concluded by saying, “Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8) And so it is with us. We are gifted—every one of us with our part. It’s our work to freely give back to the Kingdom what we have freely received.

Play the note that you, and only you, can play in the song of the Kingdom.