Friday, August 21, 2009
Do you know what you are good for...
It is helpful periodically to reflect on the things you are good at... your talents. I believe each Christian has a unique set of skills and gifts to contribute to the community of believers and to be used in this world to bring glory to God. These gifts and talents may be something you were born with, or something you received training or education to do. They may be something you learned thru life-- the school of hard knocks. It be something you learned from a mentor or parent. If you are going to be used by God in powerful ways -- and you can be -- you need to know what you are good at doing.
In my case, my personality, natural gifts, education, and life experience has equipped me to be a "go to guy" for spiritual seekers/searchers and spiritual strugglers. I love to talk with those who are seeking to figure out the whole God thing, those who are trying to decide what to do about Jesus, and those who are trying to fit their life into God's call and purpose for them.
And I love to heal the broken. I am a specialist in spiritual triage. Wrecked lives, marriages in crisis, Christians ashamed of their addictions, and believers who have betrayed their Lord... these are my people. I can help them let God put their lives back together.
I work for a ministry that is about connecting non-believers to Jesus all over this world. Most of my local preaching is at a Praise service for a university crowd (and college students are always in full blown search and/or struggle mode). And as an elder, my greatest strength is shepherding the broken.
Maybe that's why I really am always so happy. I am doing what God made me to do. My gifts, my experiences (even the painful ones) have equipped me to do what I love and am passionate about. I am not a great theologian, or an incredible speaker, or even a charismatic personality. But I have figured out what God made me good at, and I let Him shape me and mold me (and yes it took some time and I had to be broken first), and then I gave myself over to Him to use... So none of what I do is because of me. It is because of Him and everything is to His glory.
So do you want to find joy and purpose? Find what you're good at and put it to use in God's service. Then you will know what you are good for. It sure has worked for me.
So how about it? Let me hear how God is using your skills to serve His purposes in this world.
In my case, my personality, natural gifts, education, and life experience has equipped me to be a "go to guy" for spiritual seekers/searchers and spiritual strugglers. I love to talk with those who are seeking to figure out the whole God thing, those who are trying to decide what to do about Jesus, and those who are trying to fit their life into God's call and purpose for them.
And I love to heal the broken. I am a specialist in spiritual triage. Wrecked lives, marriages in crisis, Christians ashamed of their addictions, and believers who have betrayed their Lord... these are my people. I can help them let God put their lives back together.
I work for a ministry that is about connecting non-believers to Jesus all over this world. Most of my local preaching is at a Praise service for a university crowd (and college students are always in full blown search and/or struggle mode). And as an elder, my greatest strength is shepherding the broken.
Maybe that's why I really am always so happy. I am doing what God made me to do. My gifts, my experiences (even the painful ones) have equipped me to do what I love and am passionate about. I am not a great theologian, or an incredible speaker, or even a charismatic personality. But I have figured out what God made me good at, and I let Him shape me and mold me (and yes it took some time and I had to be broken first), and then I gave myself over to Him to use... So none of what I do is because of me. It is because of Him and everything is to His glory.
So do you want to find joy and purpose? Find what you're good at and put it to use in God's service. Then you will know what you are good for. It sure has worked for me.
So how about it? Let me hear how God is using your skills to serve His purposes in this world.
Comments:
<< Home
Steve...thanks for the post and the questions they evoke. I have been studying the miracles and healing of Jesus and the Apostles and those of the early church. As sons and daughters of God it is my understanding that we stand on an equal footing with those apostles and early disciples as far as our "pedigree" goes. We receive a baptism in and of the same Holy Spirit that anointed those that walked daily with Jesus. Has the Holy Spirit become less powerful down through the ages or have we allowed our faith to fail those around us. I would certainly lean to the latter. It's documented that in less industrialized societies that "miracles" of healing and demon exorcism are more common and frequent than we see. Is that a faith issue, or just an issue of our embarrassment to step out on faith and try to heal the ill, or does it carry such a negative stigma of "snake charmer" that we ignore the compassion that calls us to action for fear of retaliation?
As I study and seek the truth in God's inherent power in each of us, I hope to find that His kingdom can and will be glorified in ways that we have ignored but cannot be ignored in a nation that so desperately needs to rediscover God's healing and power.
As I study and seek the truth in God's inherent power in each of us, I hope to find that His kingdom can and will be glorified in ways that we have ignored but cannot be ignored in a nation that so desperately needs to rediscover God's healing and power.
I am not sure I have the answers to this but I do have a couple of reactions. Though I am not sure we are empowered by the Holy Spirit in the same way the apostles were (see Heb. 2:4 for one purpose), I am convinced we have not utilized the power of the Spirit. And James 5 clearly teaches the power of God to heal today. Which is why we elders at Southern Hills do so many annointings. So I am not sure I have the power to lay hands and someone and perform the miracle, but I do believe God heals thru prayer and elder annointings. And yes, there are those who are "not to sure" about this annointing thing. Thanks for thinking, and sharing.
Post a Comment
<< Home
