Thought of the Day
{a sermon de-brief}
"God anoints what God can trust." -Pastor from New Life Assembly, Missouri
Today I am staying with my friend Ramey! We went to church at New Life Assembly and the pastor talked preached on Matthew 25:15-30, which is the parable of the talents.
You can read it online at Bible Gateway, here:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025:15-30
or, in your own Bibles, of course!
Just to recap, the parable of the talents is the one about the master who gives three of his servants some money (talents) while he goes on a journey. Each receives a different amount, based on his ability. The first has 5 talents, the second has 2, and the third one gets one talent.
When the master returns from his journey, each servant reports how much they have grown the money. He commended the first and second servants, who both doubled what they'd initially been given. Their master invites them to share in his master's happiness; he promises them added responsibility (and prosperity) because they have been faithful in the small things.
The last servant, however, left the single talent he had been given in a hole in the ground. He made no interest or growth on the little bit of money that was entrusted to him. He then proceeded to sass his master, calling him greedy. As you can expect, this guy didn't get to share in the master's happiness or prosperity...
Here is what I got out of the sermon.
Each servant was given a different amount of talents. The talents never really belonged to the servant- they were held responsible and were expected to make the most of whatever they were given.
God gives each of us gifts. Anything good that we have is from God, for we know that every good and perfect gift is from Him. (James 1:17). These gifts are given to us to share, to enjoy, and to grow.
Some of us can bake really well- that's a gift! As your friends and family! (It's even better to ask them with a plate of cookies in your hand, just saying!) Baking can bless people and be an extension of the spiritual gift of hospitality. This glorifies God our Father! Bake for Jesus!
Some of us can play sports... and trust me, not all of us can! I remember my dad used to play on the church softball team. We used to go watch them, cheering daddy on. He would come home from work and still be talking about the game. You see, someone being gifted in playing sports gave them the greater opportunity to create a team. This team created a place for my dad to connect with the other men from church. These bonds made for a stronger, more unified church, and deeper home Bible studies.
Our talents, or gifts, aren't just put in our lives all willy-nilly. No, they are there for a purpose. The dreams that we have are usually a collage of our gifts and talents and abilities. A beautiful, wonderful collage.
God anoints what is reliable. He has given us gifts that he wants to use in our daily lives, not just once or twice a month. Sometimes I notice in myself that I get oh-so caught up in the busy-busy of life. So busy that I am not quiet enough to listen to God's promptings to use the gifts he is bestowing on me. When I am too busy, I shove my talent into the dirt, waiting to deal with it later. I shove my dreams to the side because I just don't think it can happen. I doubt. I ignore. And slowly, I forget...
This is all true. It makes me kind of sad to write that.
But thank God! We serve a patient and gracious God! He calls us gently, restoring us to the quiet pastureland where He gives us rest, peace, and an ear to hear His voice again.
There have been times where I am living out my dreams. There are days that I walk to the beat of God's glorious words. It is marvelous!
So what's the difference? Why do I seem to go back and forth from "chaotic busy" to "peacefully abiding?"
It is simple. Finally, something simple! It is: I need to stay in step with God through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our companion. I must meditate on the Word of God, day and night- which means to keep it in the forefront of my mind, relating my daily tasks to God's viewpoint of every endeavor He calls us to. Because sometimes we are called to bake, or play sports, or be a mom, or to be a student. God will anoint what we do when we commit it to Him, listening to the way He directs us. Yes, He can even bless and anoint the little things. Because when we are faithful in the small things, our Master will increase our territory, increase our victory, increase our responsibility and our breakthrough! And we will share in His happiness, with Him, eternally. Sounds pretty sweet to me.
"God anoints what God can trust." -Pastor from New Life Assembly, Missouri
Today I am staying with my friend Ramey! We went to church at New Life Assembly and the pastor talked preached on Matthew 25:15-30, which is the parable of the talents.
You can read it online at Bible Gateway, here:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025:15-30
or, in your own Bibles, of course!
Just to recap, the parable of the talents is the one about the master who gives three of his servants some money (talents) while he goes on a journey. Each receives a different amount, based on his ability. The first has 5 talents, the second has 2, and the third one gets one talent.
When the master returns from his journey, each servant reports how much they have grown the money. He commended the first and second servants, who both doubled what they'd initially been given. Their master invites them to share in his master's happiness; he promises them added responsibility (and prosperity) because they have been faithful in the small things.
The last servant, however, left the single talent he had been given in a hole in the ground. He made no interest or growth on the little bit of money that was entrusted to him. He then proceeded to sass his master, calling him greedy. As you can expect, this guy didn't get to share in the master's happiness or prosperity...
Here is what I got out of the sermon.
Each servant was given a different amount of talents. The talents never really belonged to the servant- they were held responsible and were expected to make the most of whatever they were given.
God gives each of us gifts. Anything good that we have is from God, for we know that every good and perfect gift is from Him. (James 1:17). These gifts are given to us to share, to enjoy, and to grow.
Some of us can bake really well- that's a gift! As your friends and family! (It's even better to ask them with a plate of cookies in your hand, just saying!) Baking can bless people and be an extension of the spiritual gift of hospitality. This glorifies God our Father! Bake for Jesus!
Some of us can play sports... and trust me, not all of us can! I remember my dad used to play on the church softball team. We used to go watch them, cheering daddy on. He would come home from work and still be talking about the game. You see, someone being gifted in playing sports gave them the greater opportunity to create a team. This team created a place for my dad to connect with the other men from church. These bonds made for a stronger, more unified church, and deeper home Bible studies.
Our talents, or gifts, aren't just put in our lives all willy-nilly. No, they are there for a purpose. The dreams that we have are usually a collage of our gifts and talents and abilities. A beautiful, wonderful collage.
God anoints what is reliable. He has given us gifts that he wants to use in our daily lives, not just once or twice a month. Sometimes I notice in myself that I get oh-so caught up in the busy-busy of life. So busy that I am not quiet enough to listen to God's promptings to use the gifts he is bestowing on me. When I am too busy, I shove my talent into the dirt, waiting to deal with it later. I shove my dreams to the side because I just don't think it can happen. I doubt. I ignore. And slowly, I forget...
This is all true. It makes me kind of sad to write that.
But thank God! We serve a patient and gracious God! He calls us gently, restoring us to the quiet pastureland where He gives us rest, peace, and an ear to hear His voice again.
There have been times where I am living out my dreams. There are days that I walk to the beat of God's glorious words. It is marvelous!
So what's the difference? Why do I seem to go back and forth from "chaotic busy" to "peacefully abiding?"
It is simple. Finally, something simple! It is: I need to stay in step with God through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our companion. I must meditate on the Word of God, day and night- which means to keep it in the forefront of my mind, relating my daily tasks to God's viewpoint of every endeavor He calls us to. Because sometimes we are called to bake, or play sports, or be a mom, or to be a student. God will anoint what we do when we commit it to Him, listening to the way He directs us. Yes, He can even bless and anoint the little things. Because when we are faithful in the small things, our Master will increase our territory, increase our victory, increase our responsibility and our breakthrough! And we will share in His happiness, with Him, eternally. Sounds pretty sweet to me.
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