Week 47: Gifts
Weekly Reading:
Acts of the Apostles 23 - Romans 13
Opening Prayer
Father God,
Again, You provide us with an opportunity to learn more about You and Your love. You have given us Your word to provide us with a roadmap to spread Your love. Father, open our hearts and minds to Your word today and provide us with wisdom and understanding.
Amen
Study
I love how we have different gifts, don't you? Our world is filled with multitudes of different abilities and talents. We have been blessed with artists, poets, those who serve, those who encourage, those good with numbers, and those good with teaching and nurturing. As a result of all of these gifts that differ from person to person, we have a world that increases in science, medical technology, and industrial advances. Our society has changed year after year and without the contribution of each person's gifts, our society would not advance. For example, if everyone was gifted in teaching but we had no gifts in discovery or math, or science, what would the teacher teach? Similarly, if everyone was equally gifted in one way our world would not contain any depth.
"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
God provided each of us with gifts in which to enrich the world we live in and He desires that we use our gifts wisely to the best of our abilities. In that same vein, God wants us to be individuals who follow God and not the world.
"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
Romans 12:2 NLT
Further, we are all part of the church and responsible for enhancing each other, with none of us better than one another.
"Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other."
Romans 12:3-5 NLT
Knowing your gifts as given by God and the gifts of others enables a highly functioning society, honoring God and others, supporting one another, and sharing the love of God.
"Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality."
Romans 12:9-13 NLT.
Closing Prayer
Father God,
Your word demonstrates Your love for us. We see in our reading today that You have laid a way for us, a roadmap to spread Your love to all we know and all we meet. Father, give us the boldness in You to share Your word and Your love with everyone we meet. Father, equip us with Your Spirit to give us the right words to say at the right time so that all is for Your glory.
Amen
Homework
How can you use your gifts to spread the love around the world?
