Gifts

I want to share some of what I’ve been studying this week. I read in a Wiersbe commentary that “too often our prayers are vague and general. ‘Lord, bless the missionaries’ …perhaps it is the lack of faith that causes us to pray generally instead of specifically.” “It has well been said that the purpose of prayer is not to get man’s will done in heaven, but to get God’s will done on earth.”

I’ve been praying, asking God more intently lately, to show me what I want to be when I grow up. I have often felt I have a purpose on earth, one to use for His glory, but have no idea what gifts I have to offer. Then this week, my bible study takes me to I Peter 4 where Paul discusses our gifts from God. Amazing isn’t it how God works his answers into the fibers of our lives. 

When putting together worship for our bible study group, I came across a GodTube video that shows a silly side of how easily and often we reject Gods gifts. It seemed so obvious on this video. But, how many times have we been handed a gift from God only to reject what He is offering? We think we have to work for His gift of salvation. We reject His gift of Forgiveness because we can’t forgive ourselves. We even reject His gift of Love because we feel we aren’t worthy to have it.

As believers we offer our gifts to the church or to others and are sometimes rejected when the ones we are trying to strengthen with our gifts allow pride, hurt and rejection to dismiss these gifts. They would rather do things on their own, in their own way. Sometimes we just plain reject His gifts because we don’t like it, understand it or want it! We need to keep in mind that He is God who knows all things and sees all things. We have to trust Him that the gift He gives us is the good and perfect gift for us.

The bible says: "Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights, who created all the lights in heaven. He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing." (James 1:17 CEV).

John Piper states: Spiritual gifts are for strengthening others. In 1 Thessalonians 3:2 Paul says,” We sent Timothy, our brother and servant in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen you in your faith and to exhort you that no one be moved by these afflictions”. To strengthen someone by a spiritual gift means to help their faith not give way as easily when trouble enters their life. We have spiritual gifts in order to help other people keep the faith and maintain an even keel in life's storms. "Are we doing what we can do to strengthen the faith of the people around us?

1 Peter 4:10,11, “Each of you has been blessed with one of God’s many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gifts well. If you have the gift of speaking, preach God’s message. If you have the gift of helping others, do it with the strength that God supplies. Everything should be done in a way that will bring honor to God because of Jesus Christ, who is glorious and powerful forever. Amen”

Notice it says that "each of us has been blessed with a gift." Gifts are not for a few very spiritual individuals,  but for all of us, and every believer has abilities which the Holy Spirit has given and can use these gifts to strengthen others. It is a true joy of life to discover what they are and then pour yourself out to others through these gifts..

The goal of all spiritual gifts is "that in everything God might be glorified through Jesus Christ" (v. 1 Peter 4:11). This means that God's aim in giving us gifts, and in giving us the faith to exercise them, is that his glory might be displayed. (Piper)

I always think of  where God has me right now. , He still knows where I'm at. He knows the hairs I have on my head and even the ones that have fallen from it. He still wants me, US,  to serve him with our gifts, yes even where we are right now.

Where we are at right now in our life journey  may very well be one of those gifts that we really don’t want, but let us consider the possibility that this too is a gift, then choose to serve Him to our best ability while we're here. Sometimes where we are at in our journey feels like an eternity, but in reality, it is only for a short time. Let's not waste this time on regrets or what if’s. Instead, let's all dive in and ask how we can use our God-given gifts to worship Him where we are.

Holy Father, Make us instruments of your love to everyone that we encounter at home, at work, in our neighborhoods, and where you have us right now. Work through us so that we can get our eyes off of our circumstances and bring your truth to those who are searching for you. Help us to grow in gratitude so that we can recognize and thank you for all the good things you have given us.

Instill in us a deep sense of generosity so that we are willing to share our gifts, our talents, our time, and our financial resources. Deepen our desire to follow your will and to do all things for your honor and glory. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.