“The gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” (Romans 11:29)
What God has given He doesn’t take back. He does, however, expect faithfulness from those in whom He invests. We are responsible to Him for what we do with His endowments. The Parable of the Talents, where the wealthy investor entrusts his servant with his goods and rewards them accordingly, is evidence enough.
Unfortunately, we often allow our gifts to fall into a state of disrepair; they become inactive and inefficient. We quench the Spirit. But, we must understand that these gifts, big or small (in our own eyes) are of significance to body life. If you feel that your gifts and contributions are unnecessary or unappreciated, you need to consider Paul’s exhortation in I Corinthians 12 where he demonstrates the absolute need of each member of the body, and how they add to the overall well-being of the church.
God expects us to fight through fear and discouragement, and keep the glow of our gifts burning brightly. The Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy to not shift his gifts into neutral, but to stir them up constantly for the good of the Body of Christ (I Timothy 4:14; II Timothy 1:6).
We serve the Church through the endowments of grace that God deposits in each of our hearts. The Apostle Paul recognized that everything that he accomplished was due to that amazing grace. He testified, “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” (I Corinthians 15:10). We must, for God’s honor and the good of others, keep our gifts in active service.
Thank God for the gifts He has given to each member of the Body of Christ and for your gifts in particular. Ask Him to forgive you, if you have allowed your gifts to sit idly even as people are in need. Seek Him to help you restore your gifts to vigor. Pray that, if He counts you faithful, to increase your gifting for the benefit of others and His glory.
Consider: Matthew 25:13-30
2 comments:
We need to remember that being part of the body means that when our part is working correctly it's to add to a full-functioning body.
Like Paul says in 1 Cor. 12:12: "The body is a UNIT, though it is made up of many parts, and though all its parts are many, they form ONE BODY."
Even more encouraging is verse 18: "But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of the, just as He wanted them to be."
God never sends people out, without providing the things needed to fulfill His will. Say your going to build a house. You don't go to the land with out the proper materials, tools,knowledge to build, and of course people to help. Many of us, are paralyzed by fear, unbelief, feeling of being inadequate, or just plain apathy. God has the solution to what ails you from walking in your gift or gifts. I remember saying to God that I was not good enough but I want all that you have to give me to walk in your will. I had to want it! God heard my prayer and continues to work in me. The scripture says "that good thing that God has begun in you, He is faithful to complete it." Because everything is for His Glory!! I remember what Pastor Bob use to say after his radio show would end "your inabilities are Gods' ability, to do something in your life." How can we be all that we can be if we don't equip ourselves with what God wants to give us. Remember they are called, gifts. I have personally never seen anyone turn down a gift.
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