March 19, 2019
Good Morning Fellow Travelers,
Read: Romans 12
“Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he lead captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” Ephesians 4:8
Christ has given spiritual gifts unto men. He furnishes the church with the necessary tools “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” The gifts are varied and many. There are gifts of teaching, prophecy, pastoring, evangelism, giving, administration, showing mercy, writing, and others. Christ never leaves His body stranded for lack of gifts.
We are not to neglect the gift or gifts that He gives to us. To neglect our gifts is to bury our talent in the sand. We know what happened to the one who did so in Matthew 25:30. He was cast into hell.
We all have at least one gift. This lays upon us the responsibility to discern what that gift is and to use it to God’s glory. Maybe you are feeling you cannot express your gift due to restricting circumstances. Are you a Christian? Share Christ with others. Are you restricted by illness, or poverty, or incarceration? Do you have a speech impediment? No walls are high enough to disable a lover of men and women, and a lover of Christ from sharing the gift of joy by way of writing or speaking – or just smiling. If the only gift you have to give is a smile, I encourage you then to go about it eagerly. Dispense smiles, and lift the load of some sorrowful heart.
My own heart has been lifted repeatedly by the flash of a winning smile on the face of someone who, seeing the cane and the hobble, threw the door open wide so entrance is unrestricted. Such a simple thing, but so profound. Do I then return the gift of thanks?
– James Baer
