Using God's Gifts

"Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received." 1 Peter 4:10 NRSV

We have all received gifts from God that can and are to be used to serve God and God's children. The Holy Spirit has not left anyone without at least a gift or two or many to be used for the glory of God and in the ministry of the gospel of  Jesus the Christ for all people.

If you are gifted with musical talents; there is always plenty of room to join with others in ministering through music. If you teach, we need teachers. There are also those gifts and talents that some might think have nothing to do with the ministry of the Church. But, you would be wrong. We need people to plow the parking lot so people can get into the church to worship or to study and hear God's Word. We need janitors and sextons to help with the general upkeep and cleaning of the property that God has given to us. The Body of Christ needs people who work well with youth or really enjoy visiting our seniors. There are those who cannot, for whatever reason, are home-bound. You can pray. You can make phone calls to reach out to others who may be alone and lonely. Not one person in the church on earth has been left without gifts or talents to serve one another.

May God help us to joyfully serve the Lord and one another with the gifts that He has so graciously given to each of us.

God's Peace - Pr. J 

1 Chronicles 22-David Prepares Solomon To Serve

Although David is not allowed to build the temple for the LORD, because of all the blood that he has shed; David gathers together workers and supplies so that when he dies his son will be able to begin to build it.  He prepares Solomon to serve the LORD by reminding him that the LORD will be with him in this endeavor, granting him peace and quiet, as he does the will of the LORD.

God has a purpose for each of us.  He gives each of us gifts that His purpose might be completed through each of us.  One gets to clear the way, another gets to build in it, and; yet, another gets to add even more to the beginnings that were made by others.  Life is a journey and it's not just our journey.  The journey was begun by others before us and what was built or begun by them has been added to by others.  All, according to God's good purpose; all for His glory. 

Often, I hear that older people (especially Lutherans) don't like change.  I find that laughable!  We have members in our congregations who will read this blog on their computers this morning; who grew up in homes without computers or television.  They did not have telephones in the homes they grew up in.  Some did not have electricity or refrigeration (without ice cut from Lake Superior in the winter) in their childhood homes.  Not like change?  That's absurd!  They have seen many changes in their lives.  They know that those changes did not hinder their lives; rather they have welcomed them. 

It is seniors who give me some of the best advise when it comes to changes that we might want to consider in things relating to the church community - changes that will enhance our lives together in Christ - changes that will prepare our children to build on what has been started here in these decades. 

And... so as David prepared for his son, Solomon, to build the temple of the LORD, we prepare for our children and for their future service to the LORD.  We prepare them for building on what has been started here according to God's will; all for His glory.