|
GIFTS, NOT BURDENS
The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some
prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip
the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of
Christ ...
I love teaching, but I
discovered long ago that, while I enjoy interacting with
children and adolescents, teaching them is not my forte. When it
was announced in church that a Sunday school teacher was needed
for fourth-graders, I knew that wasn't my calling. So when
then-Pastor Jerry Mansholt called the next day and asked me to
come speak with him about a teaching opportunity, I was
apprehensive. But his invitation did not involve small children.
Instead, I had the privilege of being trained to teach
Crossways, an adult Bible study. It was a very rewarding
experience.
Don't ask me to teach small children. Similarly, don't ever ask
me to do artwork of any kind, unless you purposely want it to be
non-representational. But I love making music and writing
poetry.
What is your gift? It doesn't have to be prophecy or being a
pastor. Someone I know in our congregation loves to cook and
help organize dinners but would faint speaking in front of a
large group. Others are great working with children, maintaining
the lawns, cleaning the building, preparing the bulletin,
ushering or singing. These are all gifts that help us be "joined
and knit together by what every joint supplies," in which every
part does its share, causing "the growth of the body (of Christ)
for the edifying of itself to love" (Ephesians 4: 16).
Dear Father, help us
each to recognize the gifts that are from you. Then give us the
courage to use them for the good of the church and the world. Amen.
Eunice Doman Myers
|
