A few years ago, we as a Church went on a spiritual journey together entitled, 40 Days of Purpose. It was a discipleship program designed by Rick Warren and Saddleback Church.
One of the key elements in the program was an acrostic of the word SHAPE. We learned together that God has uniquely shaped each one of us to serve Him. There is not a human on this planet that God doesn’t love, doesn’t have a plan for, and who isn’t gifted to serve Him in ministry.
Rick Warren defined SHAPE as:
S- Spiritual Gifts
When we come to faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit gives us spiritual gifts. 1 Corinthians 12 gives us a detailed list of many of the gifts of the Spirit. It is our responsibility to seek God and unwrap our gifts.
H- Heart of Passion
Everyone is passionate about certain things. God made us that way. As Christians, God wants to use us in the areas that we are passionate about that are pleasing to Him. It was He who put those desires in our heart.
A – Abilities
Here is a great truth, not only do we receive spiritual gifts when we are saved, but God has given us natural abilities. Some people are naturally artistic, some are craftsmen, able to do great things with the work of their hands. Some people are gifted in leadership or administration. What are your natural abilities?
P- Personality
Everyone has their own personality. God will use us in areas that best fit our personality.
E- Experiences
God never waste an experience. Often our experiences are training blocks for what God is wanting us to do in service for Him.
Our God-given SHAPE is nothing new. The Apostle Paul taught this wonderful truth nearly 2000 years ago when writing his letters to the churches in Corinth and Rome.
Romans 12:4-8, “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 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. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 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. “ (NIV)
1 Corinthians 12:14-20, 27, “ Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear 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. 17 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 smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
27) Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (NIV)
Dear one, God has uniquely shaped you to serve Him, together, we make-up Christ’ body on the earth. When any of us are not serving Him in the areas that He has gifted us, we are handicapping His body. Let me ask you, how has God shaped you to serve? Has He gifted you to teach?, to sing? to work with children? to work in landscaping? to do administration or work in the sound booth? to share the Gospel with those far from God? ‘There is so much to do for Him.
May I challenge you to take a few minutes to pray, read the Word of God and let God reveal to you the areas He wants you to serve Him. Then, Get Involved!
