WATCHWORD:
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Ephesians 4:7
For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? 1 Corinthians 4:7
The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you 1 Timothy 4:1
Meditation:
God’s Gifts — Our Hands
Think about about all the gifts and talents given to each of us. Beneath this shell of hard-headedness, stubbornness, self-importance, low self-esteem, etc., waits the angel of our worth. God’s gifts to us is part of His plan to carry us into the world and make us participants in life. The uncovering of these graces is one of the most important tasks confronting us. When we talk about being ourselves, that is being the person we are intended by God to be, we are talking about gifts. We cannot be ourselves unless we are true to the gifts and graces that flow to us from His hands.
It makes no difference where our gifts are intended to lead us; as a parent, a laborer, a medical professional, an artist, etc., we cannot talk about vocation without speaking of gifts. When we recognize our gifts, we must also consider God’s purpose. Why would He lead me, and equip me, as He has, for His purpose, and yet I still lack direction?
Do you think that your life is just ordinary, nothing special? How can that possibly be? Why would God who created the Heavens and the earth, and placed His very essence within us, equip us with gifts rare and extraordinary, to just be nothing special? Get those thoughts out of your mind. Each of us are God’s special children with talents we haven’t begun to use.
A good share of my adult life has been lived believing that God created me, that God is in charge, that He loves me, and has a plan for my life, even as I become more mature. But, wait, while I believe these things, there is, so to speak, a voice inside me that urges caution. That voice seems to be saying, you may be God’s perfect child, but “You’re not done, yet!”
The Gifts come to us through the love that God has for us, it is not our place to qualify the graces, or the challenges that God places on our hearts. To say that a gift that God has given us is not up to the task, borders on sin. In Mark 9, the father of a demon-possessed child says to Jesus: “I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief.”
How about that angel of your worth? Over our lives, the angel of our worth has emerged; our talent, our character, our compassion, our gentleness, and we are on the way to becoming the one that God intended us to be, Spirit led. What more can we say? A lot, but for now we close with, Thank you, Jesus, my Lord, my Brother, my Savior, my All. Amen.
A Morning Prayer:
Almighty God, you fill all things with your presence. In your great love, keep us near you this day. Grant that in all our ways and doings we may remember that you see us, and grant us the grace to ease through rough patches life brings. May we always know what things you would have us do, and give us strength to do them; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
