As usual, I want to share a bit of my experience with you. I do expect that some of you will think me strange or delusional and I am okay with that. As a good friend says, “What other people think of me is none of my business”. I agree with him whole-heartedly.
We’re ALL built and blessed with passion and special abilities called gifts or talents. (a summary of I Cor 12:4-8)
Some people are given physical gifts. Gifts like these, such as endurance, strength, or athletic talents. Others are given social talents like the gifts of counsel, negotiation and so forth. There are other intellectual gifts such as creativity, the gift of written words or song. Even logic, and so many technical talents, would be considered gifts. These are all talents that make us unique, special, and amazing.
I, like many others, am blessed with many talents. I have been blessed with the gift of song, the gift of counsel, technical skills and I hope to someday be able to look back and say I have been gifted with the written word. With these gifts I celebrate life, share and comfort friends and neighbors, make my living and express my thoughts and passions. I am so grateful for these and so many other things in life.
I have also been blessed with the gift of Insight.
(The biblical text refers to the combination of the talents of insight and counsel as the gift of prophecy. In I Cor 14:3, prophecy is defined.
“But the person who prophesies speaks to people for edification, encouragement, and consolation.” )
I have heard some say, “She was created this way” or “It is in his DNA”…
Really? Do athletes sit all day and then play the big game or do they practice and train?
The same could be asked about lawyers and doctors. They study and study to prepare for their calling only to call what they do a practice?
I Tim 4:14-15 we are told “Do not neglect the gift that is in you… …Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all.”
Even in my spiritual gifts of counsel and insight I must train. I practice the art of “active listening”. I work to keep my heart and mind open to the spirit for wisdom and insight and free of my own judgments and opinions. There are lessons in every day things that many people miss. At times I must force myself to pay attention to the universe around me. Even in your Faith you must practice and persevere.
2 Pt 1:10 reminds us “… make every effort to confirm your calling and election, fore if you do these things you will never stumble.“
We are all blessed, and when choose to explore those passions for talents we improve and become more talented. As we practice those gifts we are choosing to glorify Him in that practice. In fact, in Romans 12:6-8, we are instructed to use those talents for His glory.
The point is that we are ALL talented and gifted.(Psalm 139:14) We have been blessed with them to glorify our creator. Since I first read these passages I have commonly ended my prayers with this:
“I praise the creation, for I see the creator in His creation; The creator is in all things, and God’s work is glorious. All the power and glory is His forever and ever. Amen.”
So please remember: Follow your passions; Give thanks for the desire to be more than you are.
Thank you for reading and for comments…
– Be Yourself, Be Well, and Be Loved,
May Jesus have His way with your day
He is Founder and consultant for Tek Management,
Founder of the Men’s Leadership site: CalebStrong.org,
Co-Founder of the online Bible study app: BibleCounts
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