Growing in Grace

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." -1 Peter 4:10 Photo Credit Every believer, including children, has at least one spiritual gift (see 1 Corinthians 12:7). Unfortunately, many Christians never identify their spiritual gifts and simply live life as a spectator rather than a participant. God desires His church to be active and growing, with each believer playing an important part in its effective worship and work. Understanding your gifts, therefore, will help you find the best way to serve and eliminate frustrations over trying to do things the way someone else does. Not only will the church be strengthened and unified, but you'll also discover that spiritual gifts are really just Jesus working through your life as you carry on His ministry. Do you know your spiritual gift(s) in the Lord? As you read Romans 12:3-9, ask God to reveal which gifts He wants to use thr

"Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint." -Proverbs 29:18 Photo Credit Wasting time is never wise in living the Christian life. Nowhere in the Bible does it talk about sitting back and letting life pass you by. Rather, the apostle Paul repeatedly addresses the need to discipline ourselves to achieve our utmost for God's highest. Buffeting our bodies and taking on the mind of Christ, we are to live each day wholly committed to doing the Lord's will. In fact, God commands us to present ourselves as living sacrifices that He might use us for His glory - no matter what time or day of the year (see Romans 12:1). Until the Lord returns, God expects you to be about His business each day using the gifts and talents He's given you. Don't be like the lazy servant in the parable of the bags of gold who hid his gold in the ground (see Matthew 25:14-30). Instead, come to the Lord each morning in prayer and discover God's purpose to keep your

As churning the milk produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife. -Proverbs 30:33 Agitation. Jon Courson comments, "Rather than letting hurt feelings heal, those who continually revisit problems and rekindle the fire of misunderstanding will make the situation infinitely worse, as sure as stirring milk results in butter and wringing the nose brings forth blood." Let's take an example. Your friend calls. She is livid. Her mother-in-law was domineering and rude on Christmas Day. Your friend is hurt and wants to vent. Okay, what kind of friend are you, really? A carnal friend would not just be sympathetic, she would add fuel tot he fire, adding criticism and reinforcing the woundedness. This does not help, and it is not true friendship, either. As true godly friends, this very same encounter could take you both to a higher place, the Cross. First, just listen, but pray as you listen. Sometimes, when people shar

There is a generation that curses its father; And does not bless its mother. There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, Yet is not washed from its filthiness. There is a generation - oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up. There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, And whose fangs are like knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, And the needy from among men. -Proverbs 30:11-14 This describes a generation that has turned its back on God. At the risk of sounding too negative, I feel I must read 2 Timothy 3:1-7: "Know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And fro

Whoever flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for his feet. -Proverbs 29:5 We all like receiving a compliment, don't we? A word of encouragement is just that. It encourages us. But flattery as defined by Webster's is "an insincere compliment, excessive or unjustified praise." Put another way, flattery's not truthful, and in the end, it isn't kind. So let's beware of people who lavish flattery and praise. An old folk saying is "Flattery looks like friendship, just like a wolf looks like a dog." Pastor Chuck Smith comments that "flattery is often used to soften us up and then trip us up." If we listen to enough flattery, we might begin to believe it, causing us to think too much of ourselves. But on the other hand, many people never hear a word of praise, not ever. So if you're a Sunday school teacher, try to find one uplifting thing to say to each child before they leave class. If you're a mom, don't just point