It appears that the primal desperation to gain more (than the other guy), reduce risk, or subjugate a competitor for the sheer adrenaline rush, murdered trustworthy engagement and buried the idea of living peaceably. We've got some decisions to make.
Some of you may think of me as not invited into this conversation (I’m single), nevertheless this one is a Crumb for women. After further thinking about the last blog (Giftwrapped), I wonder about the profound fallout that comes from covering ourselves in our intimate relationships. As a reminder, in Gen:3 when Adam covers himself …
This was a challenging post because the discussion is so explosive that it took some time to narrow it down! To bring you up to speed, my initial posts on spiritual gifts pointed us toward a fuller grasp of what possessing a spiritual gift may mean for each of us in a practical way. The …
In this post, I will explore some complexities around talent acquisition. According to jobhero.com, a talent acquisition professional assesses staffing needs and then identifies and recruits talented individuals to fill those needs. Let’s put the mind of a talent acquisition specialist into conversation with Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church (1Cor 1:26-29). While talent …
Most of us are somewhat familiar with the word charisma. Secular understanding of the word charisma dubs it the “it” factor, star quality, charm. It’s the ability to magnetize (or hypnotize) the room. The biblical understanding of charisma originates in the roots of the words charis and chara and contains a multi-layered message about grace, our personal qualities, our relationship with God and our service to each other. In the biblical context, the word charisma conveys the joy and calm delight of a superior leaning toward an inferior in a way that is gracious. If we accept this basic understanding we might agree that in offering salvation, God leaned toward us (Paul in Rom. 5 says He commended Himself in our direction). Once we accepted the Savior, He commanded believers to lean in the direction of others with the same graciousness. And…He gave us the tools with which to accomplish that task. Those tools are called grace endowments or spiritual gifts.
Spiritual gifts are not natural talents or abilities. They are not skills or random, semi-periodic inclinations. They cannot be duplicated. They cannot be acquired through study. They can only be deposited in nature and by degree, from God. Too often they remain hidden from their possessors. Or imitators counterfeit them. Sometimes when gifts are discovered, they remain uncultivated. Sometimes they are discovered and cultivated but not used. Sometimes they are used, but their power is weakened. Spiritual gifts must be received. Through faith and consistency, they prove themselves. The saddest display is to see believers anoint, appoint and force themselves (or other people) into a role or office.
The Apostle Paul (1Cor 12) opened his commentary on gifts with, “I would not have you ignorant.” While he used what we might describe as harsh language, Paul’s intent was simply to inform and inspire the Corinthian church. He warned them against not understanding the exponential degrees of salvation[1] they possessed in their diversity (of gifts) and connectedness (by the Spirit). The Apostle wanted the church to be mindful of the potential for covetousness and competition (largely the reason Satan fell). Finally, Paul wanted the church to embrace the idea that love was of paramount importance in the operation and administration of the grace gifts God had given them. In the next couple of writings, we will search for some clarity around spiritual gifts.
To begin with here is a list of things to think about regarding spiritual gifts. The ideas are listed in no particular order. Please read through the list and if you have a question, please ask it via the blog or e-mail your question to palmtree43@gmail.com. I will attempt to address your question in future posts:
No matter what your personal history is, if you have accepted Jesus Christ, then you are a son. If you are a son, then know that God made a deposit of Himself in you that He expects to see in operation. You can literally save a life by operating in your gift. You can turn someone toward Christ while operating in your gift. You can keep someone from destruction – from losing hope. You are a deliverer. Listen to the Apostle Paul (1Cor 1:26) -he’s talking about you.
“26 Just look at your own calling, believers; not many [of you were considered] wise according to human standards, not many powerful or influential, not many of high and noble birth. 27 But God has selected [for His purpose] the foolish things of the world to shame the wise [revealing their ignorance], and God has selected [for His purpose] the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong [revealing their frailty]. 28 God has selected [for His purpose] the insignificant (base) things of the world, and the things that are despised and treated with contempt, [even] the things that are nothing, so that He might reduce to nothing the things that are, 29 so that no one may [be able to] boast in the presence of God.”
Do you believe that?
BreadCrumbs for Life!
[1] (Salvation can be defined as the act of deliverance or rescue from hurt, harm, danger or passion.)
"What the missing dad doesn’t know is that the timbre of his voice, the slow tat, tat, of his footsteps along the hall, the sound of his razor buzzing communicate to his son’s ear, and with his son’s soul."
Beaming with pride and an apparent sense of rightfully inherited authority, he poised the long, flexible carving knife just above the center of the bird then apparently his voice melted in a rhythmic decrescendo as he burst into tears, crying out, “My father never taught me how to carve a turkey.”
BreadCrumbs For Life 