“Let
Us Exercise Them” by Melanie Rigney (@melanierigney)
We, though many, are one Body in Christ and individually
parts of one another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace
given to us, let us exercise them. (Romans
12:5-6)
In you, O Lord, I have found my
peace. (Psalm 131)
“Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make
people come in that my home may be filled. For, I tell you, none of those men
who were invited (and excused themselves) will taste my dinner.” (Luke 14:23-24)
Piety
Jesus, thank You for all the
goodness You put into my life. Please give me the trust to accept it with open
heart and arms.
Study
I was going through my litany of
writing and speaking to-dos recently at dinner with a friend. I think she was
trying to be helpful when she asked, “Now what do you regret having said yes to?”
the implication being that I might learn from that in avoiding overcommitting
myself in the future. She looked shocked by my answer:
“Not one thing.”
There was no #humblebrag intended at
my end of the conversation; I truly could not do what I’m called to do without
the Lord’s direction and support. Maybe you’re in the same boat with family and
work and ministry obligations, with no regrets over your yesses. But I’m
starting to think that part of exercising those God-given gifts involves more
doing and less talking about how busy we are. After all, it’s not like God
gives a singer a beautiful voice, and then tells her it’s perfectly fine to
share it once a year or so. It’s not like God provides someone with the heart
of a parent, and then says it’s only necessary to be a loving father or mother
on alternate Tuesdays.
No, our gifts, different as they
are, were made to be exercised, we’re told in Romans 12—with no excuses or
complaints. And so, may we trust Him as we set about using them, even when that activity begins to squeeze pride, greed, and the rest out of us, leaving only
room for love and trust.
Action
Avoid
complaining about anything—the weather, your workload, politics—this afternoon.
Talk with the Lord about how that affected the time.
Credit is arembowski, Pixabay ( https://pixabay.com/photos/zumba-party-marathon-sport-4333580/ )
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