Living Free - July 5, 2013
Use Your Gifts
Today's Scripture
"In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly." - Romans 12: 6-8 NLT
Thoughts for Today
God gives each of us as believers gifts and enables us to do certain things well. The gifts vary, but they all come from God through the Holy Spirit. God wants us to use our gifts to serve him, to serve one another, and to reach out with the love of Jesus to those who don't know him.
God wants us to use our gifts--and to use them well. He wants us to encourage others to use theirs. He wants us to function as one body with many parts, working together with one mind and purpose.
Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Philippians 2:1-5 NLT
Consider this …
God has give you special gifts and abilities. What are you doing with them? Are you ignoring them? Would you rather have the gifts he has given someone else? Or are you using them to do what God has called you to do? Are you using them to encourage and help other members of the body? Are you using them to reach out to lost and hurting people?
As each of us focuses on using our gifts and helping others use theirs, we can make an eternal difference! This is true of us as individuals. It is also true of organized ministries. If we are jealous of others' gifts . . . if we compete among ourselves . . . we will interfere with God's perfect plan.
But if we are sensitive to what God has prepared and called us to do and support others in their callings, we will function as one body and moving ahead to fulfill God's plan.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for the gifts you have given me. Help me to develop and use them to honor and serve you, to encourage and help other believers doing what you've called them to do, and to reach out to those who don't know your love. In Jesus' name . . .
These thoughts were drawn from …
One Nation Under God: Toward Race Reconciliation by Donna Saunders, Ph.D. and Jean Leak, MS, RN. This study discusses barriers between people and shows how to make Christ visible through love in action. This guide also offers the way to strengthen and bond relationships. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups, and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.
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