My hands…
my ability to walk…
my ability to speak…
my ability to see and hear…
my good health…
my intelligence and education…
my money and possessions…
At their least, these are all gifts from God that help me enjoy life.
This morning God reminded me what these gifts actually were. More than mere blessings to help me enjoy life. More than being comfortable. More than things that help distinguish me from most of the people I come into contact with on the Race.
More than that, they are gifts so I can do MORE for His Kingdom. He literally gave me these gifts, because He has enabled me to do MORE.
“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48b
I found myself being thankful, not only for the gifts, but also for the EMPOWERMENT that comes with it.
Shamefully, I daily squander my God-given gifts. I spend them on myself.
My arms and legs are used to go places and pick up things on my OWN agenda.
My mouth is used to talk poorly about others.
My eyes view things that are dishonoring to my mind.
My ears can tune our others fairly easily.
My good health is only noticed when I am sick.
My intelligence is used to puff up my ego and prove others wrong.
My money buys thing I don’t need.
However, this morning God refocused me. He challenged me to use my gifts with purpose.
He reminded me that…
My HANDS and ARMS are for physically giving and serving. To hug and lift children that need to be loved.
My LEGS and FEET are for transporting myself to where God needs me. To walk to the hospital to visit sick people or serve my team by bringing home groceries.
My MOUTH is for speaking God’s truth. To encourage others and speak life into people.
My EYES are for reading God’s word and viewing His creation. To see the people He has made and all the beautiful differences between us.
My EARS are for listening to the stories of others and sharing. To lend an ear to a struggling teammate at the end of a hard day.
Even more, my HEALTH allows me to travel and not be held by physical restrictions.
My INTELLIGENCE makes it possible to study God’s word and coherently speak truth. To be creative and innovative when it comes to ministry ideas.
My MONEY and POSSESSIONS are to be used to send myself to a place that needs Christ’s love and to bless those who are in need.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
