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Listen while you read: "O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing"1 (Lyrics) |
2 Timothy 1:6 – Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. (NKJV)
I sat in the ladder-back chair, wondering what I should do and feeling a bit useless.
The day prior to our move had arrived, but my wife and I were already at our new residence unpacking boxes — at least, she was. With no Internet or satellite, what could I do? If I unpacked, I'd have to wait for her to tell me where to put things. So, I sat.
"Is there something I can help you do?" I asked.
"No, just sit there," she replied. So, I did.
A few minutes later, she yelled from the next room, "See if you can find me a magic marker."
Finally, something I could do. I walked in each room, perusing the boxes. No magic marker. How she expected me to find such a small item among the mounds of boxes and bags sitting in every nook and cranny, I didn't know, but I wasn't going to waste this opportunity.
"I don't see one," I finally surrendered after searching in vain.
"Well, it won't jump up and grab you," came her curt reply. "Look in the boxes." I searched again. No luck. I failed at my one chance to do something.
Tomorrow would be different. I'd have something to do: move in the large pieces of furniture and hang pictures.
Paul was Timothy's spiritual father and had commissioned him into the ministry. Now, he reminds him to stir up that gift of pastoring a church.
Sitting around in a ladder-back chair twiddling my thumbs isn't the way to discover God's gift to me. God has things for all of His children to do, and He gifts and talents us accordingly. There have been times when I've wondered what my gift was — or if I had one — but each time, God showed up and pointed out what it was.
Through prayer and effort, I can discover God's gift. When I wondered if He had gifted me to teach, all I had to do was try. Had teaching not been my gift, I would have quickly discovered it — or someone would have kindly let me know. Some gifts all believers have — such as serving — but God gifts all believers. Gifts are His presents so that we can accomplish His kingdom work in this world.
Don't sit around wondering what your gift is. Ask God to show you — and then stir it up.
Prayer: Father, thank You for giving us gifts so that we can do Your work in the world. Amen.
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So true, thanks for the reminder, Martin!
Amen Martin. Thanks for using your gift of writing!
Thank you, Martin. Knowing, and using, our gifts to serve God is essential.
Hi Martin,
Good one and could not agree with you more. Have a great week. Thanks for sharing!
God bless.
Hi Martin,
Thank you for today’s devotional ‘Stirring Up The Gift, and Thank you for the many devotional gifts of teaching you have and continue to share with us.
While you were sitting around did you pray and ask the Spirit to open your eyes to where that marker was Martin?
Good one.
Blessings.
Martin,
Thank you for the clear example of what it feels like to feel useless, but encouraging us to know that we can pray, to activate God’s purpose and motivation in each of our lives.
Hello Martin,
Many thanks for your devotional this morning. Yes, our God has given such a variety of gifts to His people and important that we each appreciate and use our gifts to better His kingdom.
Blessings,
(B.C.)
We are all infected with the North American virus that encourages us to get more and more.
Little thought that everything belongs to God, and beyond that, we have been told to give back a portion of what is his, that his work may be done.
The world does not understand.
Martin,
Thank you for your devotional. Many years ago I was struggling with buried emotions and secrets. I started to write a prayer to God because no words would come out, when I tried to pray orally. My written prayers soon turned into poetry and my writing had begun.
Stepping out to share my “gift” with others is still difficult as I write my journey and it is often very personal. However, it is where I hear God calling me. Due to illness I have been home bound for years. Writing, I can share with anyone, anywhere through fb and the internet.
Acknowledging the gift God gives us is not always easy; but so rewarding when we finally do use them. Thanks again for the reminder.
Thank you, Martin, for sharing your devotional writing gift with us. Blessings.
Hi Martin,
Good advice yesterday, for us not to sit around waiting for things to happen, but as you wrote, or at least that is what I got out of it as well, some days it is hard to discover our gifts.
Blessings.
Thank you, Martin Wiles, for stimulating me to stir up my gift.
I pray that God will continue to gift you with more ideas for the writing of devotions.
And you can pray for others that God will give them fine ideas that will enhance and increase His Kingdom on earth.
Greetings Martin,
In pondering your Devotion; “Stirring Up the Gift” I believe it shows your Humble, Patient and Servant Heart, and reminded me of this Verse; Mark 9:35b
If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
What a reflection you are of Christ!
I am so sorry to hear that your wife was so curt!
May you find many ways to help others.