DAN THE CHILD OF GOD: December 3 Our Partnership with God 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 I don't know how some in today's church got the false idea that the preacher is a servant and the folks in the pews are just members. No one is a bystander in God's kingdom! All believers are in partnership with the Lord (2 Cor. 6:1). He chose to work through mankind to accomplish the gospel mission on earth. To borrow a biblical metaphor, we are the workers cultivating and harvesting His fields (Matt. 9:37-38). God gave one or more spiritual gifts to every single believer to aid in the work for His kingdom. We each need this special "wiring" to carry out our unique role in His plan. He knits that spiritual gift into our personality and inborn talents to create a useful and effective servant. And just to be clear, there is no such thing as a non-gifted believer. Believers are the Lord's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for the purpose of good works (Eph. 2:10). Spiritual gifts are not our own abilities. The Holy Spirit manifests them through us. Remember, it is the sap running from the vine into the branches that produces fruit (John 15:5). In the same way, the Spirit lives and works through God's followers to bring forth acts of service. The Lord's power is behind it all. Think of that when you are tempted to shy away from God-given opportunities. God's awesome power is present in and available to every believer. The Holy Spirit equips us to obey the Lord in whatever He calls us to do. Don't waste your life sitting in a pew! Get busy using that spiritual gift. The fields of this world are ripe for harvest (John 4:35).from Dr. Charles Stanley,Work Ethic Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. - Proverbs 31:31 Are you feeling worn out? Are you using that worn out feeling as an excuse for not doing the things you know you should be doing? There's a story of a Harvard University freshman who was late handing in an assignment. He came to his professor's office to explain: "I'm sorry, sir," he said, "but I wasn't feeling well." The Dean replied, "Young man, please bear in mind that by far the greater part of the world's work is carried on by people who are not feeling very well." Isn't that the truth? Who have you encountered that went the extra mile in spite of feeling less than 100%? A parent? a fellow worker? A community leader? A friend at church? Are you lacking motivation, energy, or drive? Don't wait on your feelings. Act and see if you don't feel better. - Steve Arterburn
Our Partnership with God
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
I don't know how some in today's church got the false idea that the preacher is a servant and the folks in the pews are just members. No one is a bystander in God's kingdom! All believers are in partnership with the Lord (2 Cor. 6:1). He chose to work through mankind to accomplish the gospel mission on earth. To borrow a biblical metaphor, we are the workers cultivating and harvesting His fields (Matt. 9:37-38).
God gave one or more spiritual gifts to every single believer to aid in the work for His kingdom. We each need this special "wiring" to carry out our unique role in His plan. He knits that spiritual gift into our personality and inborn talents to create a useful and effective servant. And just to be clear, there is no such thing as a non-gifted believer.
Believers are the Lord's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for the purpose of good works (Eph. 2:10). Spiritual gifts are not our own abilities. The Holy Spirit manifests them through us. Remember, it is the sap running from the vine into the branches that produces fruit (John 15:5). In the same way, the Spirit lives and works through God's followers to bring forth acts of service. The Lord's power is behind it all. Think of that when you are tempted to shy away from God-given opportunities.
God's awesome power is present in and available to every believer. The Holy Spirit equips us to obey the Lord in whatever He calls us to do. Don't waste your life sitting in a pew! Get busy using that spiritual gift. The fields of this world are ripe for harvest (John 4:35).from Dr. Charles Stanley,Work Ethic
Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. - Proverbs 31:31
Are you feeling worn out? Are you using that worn out feeling as an excuse for not doing the things you know you should be doing? There's a story of a Harvard University freshman who was late handing in an assignment. He came to his professor's office to explain:
"I'm sorry, sir," he said, "but I wasn't feeling well." The Dean replied, "Young man, please bear in mind that by far the greater part of the world's work is carried on by people who are not feeling very well."
Isn't that the truth? Who have you encountered that went the extra mile in spite of feeling less than 100%? A parent? a fellow worker? A community leader? A friend at church?
Are you lacking motivation, energy, or drive? Don't wait on your feelings. Act and see if you don't feel better.
- Steve Arterburn