recently, i was talking to a friend about life, and we had both been caught up in discontentment where we currently were. at first, we had to take a honest view at the heart to make sure there wasn't a spirit of laziness or just boredom with the post-college monotony of life. what a wake-up call to see if i am being a neat Christian at work or truly striving to be a vessel the Lord is using wherever He has me. ultimately, it caused me to look deep into this heart to see the gifts i believe the Lord has given me to impact this culture. i have been camping out in 1 peter for awhile and this passage has really been resonating with my soul over the past few weeks:
"Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." - 1 Peter 4:8-11
first, i love the urgency, zeal, and passion that is captured in the word "fervent". i don't remember the last time i was fervent about serving or loving anyone besides... myself. that's always great.. but, seriously, if we loved others in a way that was without self-seeking motives or striving to profit in some way, but truly cared about another. wow! how beautiful a love and how attractive that would be to actually care.
next, we must recognize the gift that has been given, and we must be a good steward of using that. this is where life, living, feeling alive comes to play! oh what a blessing and a thrill to be used as an instrument or vessel of the King. So, if your gift is teaching, what are you doing about it? are you putting yourself in a place to disciple, mentor, lead a small group, teach high school kids? and when you speak, are you speaking with authority and strength of the utterances of the Living God? if my gift is encouragement, am i pushing others and encouraging them in a way that will spur them on to love and good deeds? am i encouraging outside of my comfort zone and speaking truth to others, not just to make them feel better about life, but to ultimately point them to the cross of my precious Christ? do i challenge others to take a honest view of their life and realize the gravity of our sin and yet the unfathomable beauty of the grace that has been given?
after processing these verses and thoughts over the past few weeks, i was at the 5 o'clock service at the village tonight, and Matt made a comment that completely struck a chord with me. he was talking about the beauty of reconciliation, and that we have all been given gifts to serve in the body. however, there is unity in the calling of us as believers to the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21) so, how are we living our lives in a way to love different and truly become an ambassador to the culture we find ourselves in?
just some great thoughts going through my head at an embarrassing time in the wee hours of the night. oh, that we might live and praise the One who has made us ALIVE!
