S - 1 Peter 4:10
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
NKJV
O - Each of us has been given a gift from God. These gifts are the things we discover we are particular good at or fond of doing as children of God. There is a reason why God has given us each of the gifts He has given us. It would be very difficult for us to understand our God-given mission in life if we don't use the gifts He gave us to accomplish that mission.
A - Kim and I had this conversation a few nights ago. Since she's become a Christian it's been clear to the both of us and those who know her that God has given her a special ability to connect with children and care for them. She has a particular fondness for impoverished street kids which makes her quite an asset in God's Kingdom here in Vietnam since everywhere you go there are impoverished and disabled children. Her only obstacle to using her obvious gift, she told me, was one word. That word was "laziness".
After reading this Scripture, we both realized that God gave her this gift because Jesus desperately wants to lavish His love on the impoverished children of Vietnam who she runs across everyday. When she's not using her gift, she's preventing the Lord from expressing His love to these children and it hurts.
As Kim's husband, I accepted my responsibility in not encouraging her to use her gifts as much as I should have. We both made a good prayer of repentance to God after this humbling realization and suddenly felt excited about the different ways God will use us to love His people here in Vietnam.
P - Lord, thank You for the many gifts You have lavished upon Your children. Your gifts are good because as we begin to use them in accordance to Your will, we move into a deeper understanding and appreciation for who You are and how much You love your Creation. Just as well, Your gift to us, Father, reveals to us who we truly are. May Your image be magnified in us Your children. Amen.
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