Daphne Powell
Today’s Scripture: “The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more.” Matthew 25:16, NIV
Theme: Use what God gave you.
GIFTS
When I was in high school, I remember taking a test that told me what career I would be best suited to. I then started researching jobs, colleges, even changing my mindset to match the results. How many times in life do we go all in, give it our all, and still not have success? Well, maybe that’s because it was not truly our gift. God has blessed us all with a spiritual gift, a gift that we should use. If you do not know your gift, pray for enlightenment. Begin to serve, search it out, and exercise it. Once I realized my gift and used it, I grew in it.
SERVE
Now I serve because I love serving. I love serving because when you love and care for others, you truly get to see how similar we all are. You will remove “them/they” and replace it with “us/we” in your thoughts and words. When we use our gifts to serve, we shine. When you serve, you get to show others the same unconditional love God shows us.
There are 24 hours in a day, 365 days in a year, and every second is a gift from God. Every morning when He wakes us up, He gives us another day to sow seeds, another day to testify, another day to pray with and for someone else. God has given us time and I use that time to serve.
FAITH
Does lack of faith stop you? It has stopped me, but now I think about the faithful servant (Matthew 25:16) and the faith that he had to invest that money. Does the world sometimes stop us from showing gratitude? I walk into the store, and I see a man with a sign asking for money. I used to wonder why they are homeless and what they are going to use the money for. I debated that if I give my last $20, I wouldn’t have money for gas. That was an excuse, too. I now have faith: faith in the Lord that He knows this is my last $20. Now I listen for His voice, praying for discernment when it comes to giving of my time, money, and resources. I do give because my faith has assured me that He will provide for me, His child.
Make It Personal: Get a day planner out and review the last seven days. How much time did you use for your gift? How much time did you serve others? What did you do this week that caused you to exercise your faith? God gives to us so that we will step up and use it up, not save it up and hoard.
Pray: Lord, thank You today for another day to get it right. Thank You for another day to use my gifts and my talents to serve others and to have faith in knowing that You will take care of me at all times. Amen.
Read: Proverbs 18:16; Matthew 23:11-12; Psalm 36:7-9