God gives everyone talents and abilities. Everyone has something they can do that is unique that can be used for the Lord. Right now, as you are reading this, you most likely know what that is. If you don’t or are unsure, perhaps you don’t value what you can do enough to be used by God. In any case, each of us is designed with a purpose. And the ultimate purpose is to win souls to Christ. This is what these abilities are tooled to do.
There are many times, however, that we get comfortable in those abilities and more focused on them than on what God is doing through them. In those times, God can sometimes send us a wake-up call. I know I’ve been knocked off my pedestal when I get puffed up thinking I am more than I am with my writing. It’s easy to do, seeing your name on a book cover, printed in the paper, or heard in the media. Wow. Is it. EASY. I knew of my tendency to this, and one of the reasons I did not want to write. But then I read about Paul’s thorn in his flesh. Pride is mine.
A friend of mine recently hurt his hand working at home. It almost took his thumb. It is one thing to hear that story and pass it off as “ouch.” It becomes completely different to know that he is a worship leader who uses his thumb to play guitar, bass, or piano every Sunday. Was God delivering a message to him? Only he could answer that question. It’s not for me to judge his situation. But hearing his story for me is that I need to be careful because it is a reminder that my fingers are important. After all, I type.
His story is a reminder of God’s grace and a dose of humility in the blessing of the ability He’s given us. God gives us our talents and abilities, and in a moment’s notice, they can be taken away. My friend could’ve lost his thumb. But by a miracle, he didn’t, and I’m sure he will praise God the next time he uses his talent and ability even more. I know each word I type, I praise God, thinking it could all be taken from me.
You have your moments. Praise God for them and use them. Whatever they may be. Don’t sit on them, get comfortable in them, and by no means misuse them. God bless you, friends. Talk with you next week.
“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” — James 4:7
Photo by Shawn Augustine on Unsplash#
Moments for the Heart 