Today in the Word for August 19-23
Today in The Word
Monday Aug 19, 2019
Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. When I tell folks they are to use their gifts and talents for the Lord, some people tell me they don’t think they have any gifts to share. Yet Jesus in Matthew 7:7-11 states:
“Ask and it will be given you; seek and you will find…Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you…know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
If we think we don’t have any gifts to share, my advice is to ask God for some. He is a good Father and he is eager to give good gifts. Is it possible that we feel we have nothing to share with other followers of Jesus precisely because we have not asked?
Jesus makes it very clear: ask! God has good gifts to share with us so we can share them with others.
And that’s the Word from Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in The Word
Tuesday Aug 20, 2019
Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. When I tell folks they are to use their gifts and talents for the Lord, some people tell me they don’t think they have any gifts to share. Yet Paul states in Romans 12:4-6:
“For just as each of us has body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body…We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us…”
Notice that Paul states that ‘each of us’ have been given gifts. These gifts are a grace. We did not earn or deserve them. God gave them to us by his grace and in his wisdom. Yet gifts are given to each follower of Christ.
So, the line that we don’t have any gifts is simply not true. Each of us is gifted by God. The question before us is whether we are going to share that gift we have been given or if we are going to bury that talent and make sure no one benefits from it. One of Jesus’ parables warns us that it is a bad idea to bury our talent out fear. We must be brave to share what ‘each of us’ have.
And that’s the Word from David Baker of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Wednesday Aug 21, 2019
Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. When I tell folks they are to use their gifts and talents in the church, some people quickly explain that they don’t belong in church because they don’t have the same important gifting as someone else. Yet Paul makes it very clear in I Corinthians 12:12-17 where he states in part:
“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ…Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body, it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be?”
We absorb the curious notion that only some parts of God’s church really matte and since we don’t have that specific gift to offer then we do not belong. Nothing could be further from the truth. It takes a lot of different parts functioning together to make a body. Claiming we don’t belong because we lack a certain gift is simply envy. You belong in Christ’s body. So, use the gift you have, rather than withdraw from it all because of the gift you don’t have.
And that’s the Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly. Join our Wednesday adult Bible Study at 6:30 for more of the Word.
Today in the Word
Thursday Aug 22, 2019
Sometimes people tell me they don’t belong in church. They may have even tried church, but they are certain they do not belong. Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Yet Paul states firmly in I Corinthians 12:18:
“But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.”
If we have decided to trust Jesus for forgiveness of our sins, we are now part of his Body—the Church. And it appears that there are no exceptions to belonging. God has ‘placed the parts in the body, every one of them’. You and I have been placed by God in a church—in a Body. You and I belong because that is what God wanted.
What a tragedy if we run from connection with a church because we have bought the lie of the Enemy that we do not belong. God is in the ‘placing in a body’ business. You have a place. You can belong. God has a part for you to play in His Body.
And that is the Word from Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Friday Aug 23, 2019
Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. When I tell folks they are to use their talents in the service of the Church, some quickly reply that they are pretty sure that none of their talents are ‘spiritual.’ Yet when I look at one of the lists of talents that help the church in Romans 12:6-8 I read:
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
This list contains some gifts we might think ‘spiritual’, such as prophesy and teaching. Yet it also includes serving, being encouraging, and showing mercy. These are just as ‘spiritual’ gifts as the others listed.
And notice that Paul calls all of us to use our gifts. ‘If it is to encourage, then give encouragement’. You might be surprised to discover how God could really use what you are good at. It takes all kinds of gifting to make up the Body of Christ. I wouldn’t give too much thought to whether one’s gift is ‘spiritual’. God just wants to use you!
And that’s the Word. You can enjoy more of the Word this Sunday at 10:45 at Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.