Dear Family and Friends,

I recently cleaned out my ‘don’t know where else to put this’ drawer and found a gift card we received five years ago. It was a Christmas gift card from a church member for one of our favorite restaurants.

We used it for a special occasion. The evening, was delightful. The food and service impeccable. And the memories made were well… priceless.

Five years went by before we used our gift.

Let’s talk about another kind of unused gift. 

If you recall, last week’s message was about the kindness of the early church. I suspect we all walked away feeling like we can do better at being kind like the early Christians.

Which is where our gifts come in. Gifts given to each of us by God to be used to help, love and show kindness towards others.

I’m sure we have the same gifts they had.

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”  Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

You’ll notice that these gifts fall into two broad categories – gifts of words and gifts of deeds.

Prophesying, teaching, encouraging and leading are gifts of words. Gifts given so we can help others on the inside – spiritually and emotionally.

And I would add, these gifts usually help others in the church body.

Serving, giving and showing mercy are gifts of deeds. Gifts meant to meet the physical needs of others.

These gifts help those both in and outside the church body.

My guess is most of us want guidance on using our gifts. Who, when and where do we help?

Paul gave us a pathway to the answer to our questions – God’s good, pleasing and perfect will.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”  Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Let’s spend the rest of our time unlocking the first step towards God’s will for our gifts – offering our bodies as a living sacrifice.

We were texting with close friends the other evening. They are visiting countries in southern Asia and were sharing how they loved watching the children.

They commented – “They don’t have much but they are so happy and friendly.” They were reminded of how much we Americans have compared to others around the world.

A person of poverty is someone who has few, if any, choices. Their life is an endless cycle of unfilled needs – a life with few to no choices. 

This is the norm for much of the world.

Now I recognize that many of us have not witnessed real poverty like our friends have. 

It’s hard to see just how blessed we really are. That we live in an opaque bubble that blinds us from the reality for billions of people.

And as a result, many of us live feeling somewhat entitled to what we have.

Our path to God’s will begins with looking at the evidence of God’s mercy in our lives. Hint: It’s everything we have. 

Then responding to His mercy by dropping to our knees, offering ourselves to God and asking Him to use us as He pleases.

Saint Augustine once said, “He who created us without our help will not save us without our consent.”

I would add that He who created us without our help will not use us without our consent as well.

Will you give God your consent? He’s patiently waiting…

In love always,