Closet Space Aug. 3, 2005 |
Imagine spending months picking out the perfect gift for a loved one. Now, with great excitement, place the gift in their hands and watch their joyous expression of gratitude. Then, imagine finding out ten years later that they never bothered to open the gift. Instead, they hid it in the back of a closet. God gave us all gifts, and He has a plan for how He wants us to use these gifts. But for some reason most of us choose to ignore them. One reason could be that we don't realize that it is a gift so we abuse it or let it lay dormant. Or maybe we are afraid of other's abusing the gift so we pretend like it doesn't exist. Another reason could be that we believe our gift pales in comparison to someone else's talent, so we choose not to use it at all for fear of embarrassment. None of these reasons are good enough to reject what God has placed inside of you. Rather that gift is teaching, driving a bus, drawing, construction, singing, cleaning, ushering, *smiling (yes, smiling), counseling, teaching, *hugging, motivating or *making others laugh. Don't allow Satan to make you ashamed of your gift. God has given you gifts to help others. If you hold back on using them then you are letting down your fellow brothers and sisters. It doesn't matter if someone else's gift appears to be better because God likes the way you do it, that's why He gave it specifically to you. God didn't just throw the gifts into the air and let them land wherever they wanted to. He strategically placed them inside of you. So no matter what your gift is, do it unto the glory of the Lord! Pull it out of that closet! I hope you enjoyed reading the word of God in a new light. Have a Happy Wednesday! God Bless, Min. Tommy & Sis. Shatika Gray Did you know.... *If you are anointed to smile, your smiles can break chains of depression and spread joy to a burdened heart. *If you are anointed to hug, your hugs can release peace and love to someone who feels alone, overworked, or abandoned. *If you are anointed to make others laugh, your clean humor can heal sorrowful hearts and calm fearful & worried minds. Scripture References Prov 17:22 NKJV A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones. Eph 4:11-13 NLT 11 He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, 13 until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ. Eph 6:6-8 NLT 6 Work hard, but not just to please your masters when they are watching. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. 7 Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 8 Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free. Ps 84:10 NKJV For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 1 Tim 4:14 NKJV Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. |