Seek First The Kingdom of God no. 35

“But we have gifts that differ and which are meant to be used according to the grace that has been given to us. If your gift is prophecy, use it to the extent of your trust; if it is serving, use it to serve; if you are a teacher, use your gift in teaching; if you are a counselor, use your gift to comfort and exhort; if you are someone who gives, do it simply and generously; if you are in a position of leadership, lead with diligence and zeal; if you are one who does acts of mercy, do them cheerfully” (Romans (Rom) 12:6-8). We all have all these gifts at certain times, however, we often focus on one gift specifically to the exclusion of the others. Through the Spirit we have access to all these gifts at certain times and we should not hinder our walk by limiting our gifts.

I have heard people say that they don’t have any special talents or any special skills or any special gifts. I have always been sad when I hear people limit both themselves and God in that way. I am created in God’s image just as much as you are. God has gifted me with a talent as He has gifted you with a talent. Some of us may have more talent than others. Some of us may have more access to a talent at certain times than others. BUT we all have gifts given from God. And we all have the gift of His Spirit indwelling within us to grant us talent we were not originally gifted. So, no Christian should ever talk about not having talent. And every Christian should be using that talent to serve the Kingdom of God.

I am reminded of Daniel who, “. . . blessed the God of heaven in these words:

“Blessed be the name of God

from eternity past to eternity future!

For wisdom and power are his alone;

he brings the changes of seasons and times;

he installs and deposes kings;

he gives wisdom to the wise

and knowledge to those with discernment.

He reveals deep and secret things;

he knows what lies in the darkness;

and light dwells with him.

I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors,

for giving me wisdom and power,

and revealing to me what we wanted from you,

for giving us the answer for the king” (Dani'el (Dan) 2:19-23).

God reveals and gifts just what we need at the time that we need it. And though I may have a natural gift for any certain talent, God also gives gifts when He wants and reveals “deep and secret things”.

I just need to keep working and seeking and praying and communing and working out righteousness. Too often in my life, I have placed too much faith in my natural gifts rather than working to develop those gifts to serve His Kingdom. I have used my gifts to make my own life easy rather than use those gifts and talents to serve others and serve Him. I pray that I never forget that my gifts and talents, whether natural or supernatural, are for use to His glory and His Kingdom. I need to keep seeking His Kingdom and using those gifts as an Ambassador of His Kingdom.

Seek first His Kingdom which rests on the foundation of love.

Grace and Shalom to your home. The Kingdom of God is now!

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #SeekFirstTheKingdom #NotMyWayYHWH

Seek First The Kingdom of God no. 33

"I know what you have been doing, how hard you have worked, how you have persevered, and how you can’t stand wicked people; so you tested those who call themselves emissaries but aren’t — and you found them to be liars. You are persevering, and you have suffered for my sake without growing weary. But I have this against you: you have lost the love you had at first. Therefore, remember where you were before you fell, turn from this sin, and do what you used to do before. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your menorah from its place — if you don’t turn from your sin" (Revelation of Yeshua to Yochanan (Rev) 2:2‭-‬5 CJB)! Turn from your sin. What was the sin? "You lost the love you had at first." Jesus calls us to love God and our neighbors. He calls us to turn from the sin of not loving. Folks have lost their love and they need to repent.

"You lost the love you had at first." It is so easy to burn out of love. Living a life of love is exhausting, is thankless, and opens you up to being used. Loving folks is frustrating. Loving folks sets your heart up for disappointment and heart break. Loving folks is not easy. The alternative is much easier. And too often we fall into religious indignation. We fall into writing folks off as beyond hope. We give up on loving and caring and praying. I have been guilty of doing that same thing. BUT, I can choose to repent and get back to loving and living like Jesus. Folks have lost their love and they need to repent.

"You lost the love you had at first." I wish I could tell you that burning out is rare BUT it isn't. I need to recharge and refocus because loving is not easy. The good news is that you can get that love back because my God is great. My God breaks the boxes I build for Him. My God smashes my expectations and my assumptions. My God does whatever He Wills. And He only asks me to trust Him. And that is rather a simple request, however, enacting allegiance to Him is never easy. That allegiance is going to mean difficult decisions. That allegiance is going to require denying my self. That allegiance is going to require taking up His cross. That allegiance is going to require following Jesus. And by reading His life, I can see it was simple BUT not easy. Folks have lost their love and they need to repent.

"You lost the love you had at first." Being like Jesus is thankless. Being like Jesus is serving. Being like Jesus is teaching. Being like Jesus is being surrounded by folks that just don't get it BUT still trying to reach them. Being like Jesus is breaking the preconceived notions folks have about the Kingdom of God. Being like Jesus means making folks that want to monetize God angry. Being like Jesus is hanging on a cross and forgiving everyone, even you and even me and even people we don't like. Being like Jesus is simple BUT not easy. So, I pray today that you and I find that love we lost. That we repent of the alternative and we take the time to recharge and refocus on loving and living like Jesus.

Seek first The Kingdom of God. Grace and Shalom to your home.

#NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #seekfirstthekingdomofGod