DAILY DEVOT IONAL 3
Judy Ehninger
A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. - 1 Corinthians 12:7 (NLT)
BE THE GIFT GOD CREATED YOU TO BE
When I cleaned out a closet recently, I found a beautiful gift a friend had given me many months ago. I remember when she gave me the gift, I was thrilled! It made me feel so special and loved that she purchased it with me in mind. Yet somehow in the busyness of life, the gift became buried underneath "stuff," hidden and unused. I can’t imagine how disappointed my friend would be if she knew I hadn’t continued to treasure it.
It made me pause and think about the gifts that the Ultimate Gift Giver has given each of us, and whether or not we’re using them. I envision God, with His infinite creativity, pouring over each of us as He formed us, selecting unique abilities and spiritual gifts to prepare us for the work that He has called us to do, our journey of healing.
It’s our job to steward these gifts. We must prayerfully consider what they are and how we can use them to serve a world in desperate need — this is our purpose, our calling, our journey of healing.
I have worked with men and women who were overcoming exploitation, addiction, and domestic abuse. Because of their life circumstances, many of these individuals had never considered God’s purpose for their life. Many were frightened and scarred, afraid they couldn’t do anything right. Through love, encouragement, hard work, and prayer, many of these students became successfully employed in allied health professions. Each learned that God gifted them with a HUGE heart of compassion for suffering people and an incredible sense of perseverance.
Just imagine what the world would be like if we began to steward the gifts God has given us to serve each other and bring healing to the broken.
Unlike the gift my friend gave me long ago, let’s not keep our unique gifts from God hidden under a mountain of stuff in the closet of our lives. Let’s use our gifts for His glory now, on our journey of healing.
Are you aware of your giftedness?
How can you more effectively use your spiritual gifts?
Lord, we thank you for our spiritual gifts. Help us share these gifts and your love with everyone we meet. Guide us we pray. Amen.