Kindness is a gift.”
–A.W. Hart (Killer’s Chance)
“Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
“Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
–Romans 13:10(NKJV)
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Today I want to borrow from my trusty little devotional by Lois A. Cheney, God Is No Fool. I have used this book over and over, meditating on the gems that are in it. I want to keep with the theme of yesterday’s devotion.
Is there a hell?
Once upon a time a person was touched by God, and God gave him a priceless gift. This gift was the capacity for love. He was grateful and humble, and he knew what an extraordinary thing had happened to him. He carried it like a jewel and he walked tall and with purpose.
From time to time he would show this gift to others, and they would smile and stroke his jewel. But it seemed that they’d also dirty it up a little. Now, this was no way to treat such a precious thing, so the person built a box to protect his jewel. And he decided to show it only to those who would treat it with respect and meet it with reverent love of their own.
Even that didn’t work, for some tried to break into the box. So he built a bigger, stronger box–one that no one could get into–and the man felt good. At last he was protecting the jewel as it should be. Upon occasion, when he decided that someone had earned the right to see it, he’d show it proudly. But they sometimes refused, or kind of smudged it, or just glanced at it disinterestedly.
Much time went by, and then only once in awhile would one pass by the man, the aging man; he would pat his box and say, “I have the loveliest of jewels in here.” Once or twice he opened the box and offered it saying, “Look and see. I want you to.” And the passerby would look, and look, and look. And then he would back away from the old man, shaking his head.
The man died, and he went to God, and he said, “You gave me a precious gift many years ago, and I’ve kept it safe, and it is as lovely as the day you gave it to me.” And he opened the box and held it out to God. He glanced in it, and in it was a lizard–an ugly, laughing lizard.
Yes, there is a hell.
Paul told Timothy, “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you….” (2 Timothy 1:6, NKJV) Now, Paul was speaking of spiritual gifts, most likely the “gifts of calling” because he mentioned it was given by the “laying on of my hands.” But we should heed this advice whether we are speaking of spiritual gifts or natural gifts. We all have at least one spiritual gift as seen in Romans 12. It is important to recognize that these gifts are different than those mentioned in Ephesians 4 and 1 Corinthians 12. Everyone has one of the gifts in Romans 12, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them…” (12:6, NKJV)
The gifts/talents that the Lord gives us are not to be despised whether spiritual or natural. To do so would be to despise the Giver of the gifts. For a few seconds, take a look at your natural gifts. They may be small and few in number, or they may be great–no matter, stir them up and use them. I knew a man who had tremendous talent and used them for the Lord, but he also had a small gift, the gift of a smile. Every time he stopped at the same convenience store he would smile and tell the attendant, “Have a good day.” Finally, after several weeks of this, the person asked him, “why do you smile?” That presented an open-door opportunity to witness, but it was the simple gift given of a smile. Immediately comes to my mind is a student who I told, “God gave you a gift of a smile which is infectious–use it.”
So again, I ask–are you using your gift(s)? If not, stir them up. Maybe you have the gift of organization (administration/leadership depending upon the translation) then put it to use. Maybe your gift is ministry (and we all can do this). Ministry is not necessarily preaching of the Word, but it might be making coffee at the men’s meeting. It may be giving a drink of water to a thirsty soul. Whatever the gift is–stir it up. Do not be like the unfaithful servant and hide your gift, but stir up the gift into a flame. Use the gift of prayer, especially that of intercession. Think about the things that the Lord has given you–use them for His kingdom!
—————————————–
Today I want to borrow from my trusty little devotional by Lois A. Cheney, God Is No Fool. I have used this book over and over, meditating on the gems that are in it. I want to keep with the theme of yesterday’s devotion.
Is there a hell?
Once upon a time a person was touched by God, and God gave him a priceless gift. This gift was the capacity for love. He was grateful and humble, and he knew what an extraordinary thing had happened to him. He carried it like a jewel and he walked tall and with purpose.
From time to time he would show this gift to others, and they would smile and stroke his jewel. But it seemed that they’d also dirty it up a little. Now, this was no way to treat such a precious thing, so the person built a box to protect his jewel. And he decided to show it only to those who would treat it with respect and meet it with reverent love of their own.
Even that didn’t work, for some tried to break into the box. So he built a bigger, stronger box–one that no one could get into–and the man felt good. At last he was protecting the jewel as it should be. Upon occasion, when he decided that someone had earned the right to see it, he’d show it proudly. But they sometimes refused, or kind of smudged it, or just glanced at it disinterestedly.
Much time went by, and then only once in awhile would one pass by the man, the aging man; he would pat his box and say, “I have the loveliest of jewels in here.” Once or twice he opened the box and offered it saying, “Look and see. I want you to.” And the passerby would look, and look, and look. And then he would back away from the old man, shaking his head.
The man died, and he went to God, and he said, “You gave me a precious gift many years ago, and I’ve kept it safe, and it is as lovely as the day you gave it to me.” And he opened the box and held it out to God. He glanced in it, and in it was a lizard–an ugly, laughing lizard.
Yes, there is a hell.
Paul told Timothy, “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you….” (2 Timothy 1:6, NKJV) Now, Paul was speaking of spiritual gifts, most likely the “gifts of calling” because he mentioned it was given by the “laying on of my hands.” But we should heed this advice whether we are speaking of spiritual gifts or natural gifts. We all have at least one spiritual gift as seen in Romans 12. It is important to recognize that these gifts are different than those mentioned in Ephesians 4 and 1 Corinthians 12. Everyone has one of the gifts in Romans 12, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them…” (12:6, NKJV)
The gifts/talents that the Lord gives us are not to be despised whether spiritual or natural. To do so would be to despise the Giver of the gifts. For a few seconds, take a look at your natural gifts. They may be small and few in number, or they may be great–no matter, stir them up and use them. I knew a man who had tremendous talent and used them for the Lord, but he also had a small gift, the gift of a smile. Every time he stopped at the same convenience store he would smile and tell the attendant, “Have a good day.” Finally, after several weeks of this, the person asked him, “why do you smile?” That presented an open-door opportunity to witness, but it was the simple gift given of a smile. Immediately comes to my mind is a student who I told, “God gave you a gift of a smile which is infectious–use it.”
So again, I ask–are you using your gift(s)? If not, stir them up. Maybe you have the gift of organization (administration/leadership depending upon the translation) then put it to use. Maybe your gift is ministry (and we all can do this). Ministry is not necessarily preaching of the Word, but it might be making coffee at the men’s meeting. It may be giving a drink of water to a thirsty soul. Whatever the gift is–stir it up. Do not be like the unfaithful servant and hide your gift, but stir up the gift into a flame. Use the gift of prayer, especially that of intercession. Think about the things that the Lord has given you–use them for His kingdom!