Gifts

Do you like gifts? Do you prefer getting gifts or giving gifts? Have you taken your thoughts outside the box when thinking about gifts? (no pun intended) Rather I mean have you ever looked at gifts from a Biblical view? Have you ever looked within for your gifts or the gifts that you might see in others all around you?

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

1 Peter 4:10

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

Romans 12:6

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;

I will wager that you can identify gifts in and among your loved ones. Maybe you have a son who is an amazing accountant or a sibling who is an ethical and compassionate lawyer. I could speak about my loved ones and identify gifts that they have and that maybe others do not even notice in them. And, what is more, my loved ones may not even see their own gifts within.

How about you…what are your gifts? Can you identify them? Do you try to use them for the betterment of the world?

I happen to be a faithful follower of the United Methodist Church and we believe we are to go into the world and help others become disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Those words are not a recommendation, they are a mission statement.

To fulfill this mission some may become great preachers, orators, teachers or apologists. Others may fulfill that mission by modeling Jesus-like behavior for others to see. Some may fulfill the mission by praying for others or praying with others and some may do so by being good listeners or by organizing an event. There is something for everyone to do on this mission. It only requires us to identify and utilize our gifts.

On a recent Sunday a lovely and talented graduate school aged young lady offered the message at church. She challenged us to look within and draw out our gifts and use them every day. The first step is identifying them then starts the implementation remembering always, the one who bestowed those gifts upon us in the first place.

As the Book of Matthew states as do the lyrics of a piece from the musical GODSPELL: “All good gifts around us are sent from Heaven above. So thank the Lord.” AMEN!