Stay In Your Lane

Photo by:   Yoel J. Gonzalez

Not too long ago, my husband and I were on a weekend getaway. Our journey had us traveling on a two lane highway, when suddenly without warning a car was headed straight toward us. It was quite scary! Visions of a head on collision flashed before me. My husband began to blow the car horn and swerved quickly out of the car’s way toward the brim of the road, with just inches of passing each other avoiding a head on collision.

This driver left his lane to pass a bus. In doing so, he didn’t account for the timing needed to clear passing the bus before another car would block his clearance, which just happened to be our car. I couldn’t believe the driver in the other car actually waved his hand at us as if we were in fault for the near missed accident. In his impatience, he left his driving lane, putting our lives in jeopardy. Fortunately, Father God protected my husband and me.

After calming down, I thought, this incident reminds me of the Body of Christ. There are many who hurriedly leave their lane of gifting to operate in areas they were not called. When this happens, it causes many collisions of conflict in the Body of Christ with Believers arguing when someone doesn’t stay in their lane of gifting (Note:  giftings and callings are interchangeable).

We read in 1 Corinthians 12:4-7
“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”

Verse 4 & 5 confirms there are diversities of gifts which means Father God has blessed the Body of Christ with numerous giftings which are different in function and operation within the Church. We don’t have to leave our lane of gifting colliding with another Believe Father God has called to function in, we are to stay in our lane.

Often when a Believer joins a congregation after salvation, they are unfortunately asked to volunteer in positions they aren’t equipped to handle. When this happens, a Believer is operating in a lane he/she were not called to do. Unfortunately, they will become frustrated and unable to perform the job, which will cause unnecessary tension or conflict with others. Or a Believer will ask to volunteer in a position they covet and have not been gifted by Holy Spirit. These types of individuals become controlling, using this as a means to hold onto a position they are not equipped for.

Friends, Father God doesn’t always place His Children in positions immediately. There is a time of growing and maturing that must take place. When we move too fast, we make mistakes! Look at Abraham for an example! Father God made a promise to Abraham to become a father of many nations! What did Abraham do, he tried to help Father God by using the flesh, which caused conflict between Sarah and his concubine Hagar. And that conflict still exists today with the Arab nation.

It is Holy Spirit who positions a Believer in the Body of Christ, not self or man! All Believers need to seek Father God for their gift and this will prevent them from straying from their lane.

Verse 7 of first Corinthians 12 tells us every Believer has been given gifts to benefit the Body of Christ. When there is confusing and conflict due to Believers not staying in their lane, the Body of Christ suffers and often times many become wounded. Friends “stay in your lane” of gifting allowing Holy Spirit to grow and mature you, then He will place you where the Body of Christ will benefit.