Tag Archives: Gifts

Best Me I Can Be

Posted in Daily Devotions: Chapter by Chapter by

limited-edition

Today’s Devotional: Numbers 4

What do you think of when you see the words limited edition? I think that there are very few, it’s special, unique, set apart, not available for an indefinite period of time. Numbers chapter 4 makes me think that’s what Christians are!

  • Matthew 7:14 says, “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (There are few)
  • 1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (We are special).
  • Psalm 139:13 says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” (We are unique)
  • Psalm 73:26, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (We are only on earth for a short time.)

The three families of the tribe of Levi had service to perform about the tabernacle. This chapter tells us who is to serve, what was the order of their service, and how many there were in the tribe who served. As this chapter unveils, each Levite had his assignment, just so, every Christian has a gift and a job God wants him to do. I believe God will reward us for doing what He wants us to do. We are not to do what we choose to do, but we are to exercise the gifts that He has given us.

God created us with gifts, spiritual gifts. These are unique to us and were given to us for God’s service. When we use our gifts we perform naturally and effortlessly. This is why we call it our gift-zone, strengths, natural abilities and talents. Collectively, every believer together makes up the body of Christ and are able to be so much more together than we are apart.

I see how God arranged people according to their gifts and talents and to perform the work of the tabernacle seamlessly, efficiently and effectively for Him. As a Christian, created and called to serve God with our own unique gifts and abilities, let’s approach today and be the best that we can be in service to God.

Too Generous

Posted in Daily Devotions: Chapter by Chapter by

Too Generous

Today’s Devotion: Exodus 36

I often wonder what the world would look like if the Government stopped taking care of people and they empowered our churches to do it? I dream of our churches being the primary respite in times of need – from natural disasters to loss of jobs, homeless and hunger, to orphans and widows. Impossible I know, but imagine!

I think of this as I read Exodus 36, specifically verse 6, “Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more,”. Can you imagine if people of today were so generous that we had to be restrained from giving?! My idea of a church empowered model could do exceedingly more than any government could possibly collect enough taxes.

When people have a relationship with God they realize that nothing is their own and as a result, Generosity. Why? Because it’s material and everything in this world will perish so if we have it – give it! It’s not ours to begin with. (Matthew 6:19) Everything is from God and for God, so if it’s not ours to begin with we don’t need to grow emotionally attached to it. It’s only ‘stuff’ and you can’t take it with you.

For this reason I am not a fan of rummage sales. They take a lot of time to prepare and it is such a defeating attempt to recover a meager ROI. Then, I am stuck sitting all day watching people rummage through my ‘rejects’ and barter over mere cents. It’s embarrassing honestly. Instead, each time I pull up to a donation box, I pray that my stuff that God would use it to bless someone in need; that he would see my heart to give it up and desire to provide to those less fortunate. It is so fulfilling to give with this point of view and sincerity of heart.

The message I gleaned from Exodus 36 is to keep that heart for giving and we can give in tangible and intangible ways. Sure, the obvious is money, but there is time and talent as well. Time, to serve in a food pantry, homeless shelter or volunteer at church and then there is talent, using our own respective gifts that God has uniquely given to all of us. Leadership, finance, coordination, organization, teaching, manufacturing, hospitality, etc.

Wouldn’t it be an entire different world if God had to ask us to stop giving these things?