Just about everybody likes a gift.
On Christmas Day, kids wake up and bolt to the
tree to see what Santa Clause has brought. When mom and dad wake up, the kids
can’t wait to open the remaining presents.
Birthday gifts are always appreciated, but perhaps
best gifts are those that somebody gives for no apparent reason at all.
Today’s reading is 1 Timothy 4. Paul is writing to
Timothy, the leader of the Ephesus church, filling in for Paul who is on a
missionary journey. Let’s focus on verse 14, “Do not neglect your gift, which
was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their
hands on you.”
The church has several Christ given tasks. The
Holy Spirit gives each church member a spiritual gift so that the church can
complete its tasks.
As interim Pastor, Timothy was given the gift of
proclaiming the Gospel. While this is
critical, it takes the use of many more gifts for a congregation to be
successful. Paul lists some of the spiritual gifts in Corinthians and Romans.
Among them are wisdom, knowledge, healing, prophecy, serving, teaching,
encouraging, giving, leadership and showing mercy.
Unlike Christmas gifts, I sometimes do not want to
know what my spiritual gifts are. Perhaps a better way of looking at it is that
I would rather do what I want to do, not what the Holy Spirit has gifted me to
do. If I ignore my gifts, then I can rationalize to myself that there are good
reasons for not doing more in Christ’s church.
And of course, understanding my gifts and utilizing
them can put me outside my comfort zone. Changing jobs also puts me outside my
comfort zone at first, yet I gladly accept those challenges. The feeling of
discomfort does not last long.
Today’s reading is something I needed to hear, “Do
not neglect your gift.”
Perhaps there are others like me in this regard.
The church can only be effective if its members utilize their gifts. The Holy
Spirit did not give us gifts for no apparent reason at all.
Do you know what your gifts are? Are you using
them?
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