Acknowledging & Applying God’s Gifts to Our Harvesting

Examining Scripture:

“Having then gifts differing
according to the grace that is given to us,
whether prophecy, let us prophesy
according to the proportion of faith;
Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering:
or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation:
he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity;
he that ruleth, with diligence,
he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”
Romans 12:6-8

Evaluating Soil:

Don’t you find that it’s so much easier to accomplish tasks and see fruitfulness in our lives with the right tools? I sure do. When we have to use broken, worn out, unmaintained, and inappropriate equipment it makes jobs harder and take longer than necessary.  

Life is naturally difficult, but we don’t have to make it more difficult by neglecting the tools and resources God has made available to us. When we accept God’s gifts, our spiritual responsibilities become lighter. We don’t have to do things alone or without the right tools. We’re in this together and are supposed to help one another down the path of life.

Experiencing Seasons:

When my hubby and I work on projects, there are times when we have to make do with the tools on hand or fabricate something to get a job done. We can’t always go to our local hardware stores and buy every appropriate tool available.

This is when I appreciate my husband’s knack for ingenuity. When it comes to getting a job done, without extra hands or the needed tools, he is great at designing and fabricating something that will work. His willingness to apply his abilities and use his gifts has saved us money and proven quite productive.
All of our work is much easier and more fruitful when we apply the God given talents and gifts we have received.

Embracing Solace:

Spiritual fruitfulness and solace are dependent on us acknowledging and applying our spiritual gifts to our everyday lives and tasks. We can read and talk about them, but, at some point, for them to be useful, we have to use them.

Enjoying Simplicity:

Being fruitful becomes more difficult the minute we take things into our own hands, cut corners, do it our way, and neglect to use the right tools. God desires that our lives be simple, spiritually sound, strong, and secure. Why would we want to do things the hard way?

Employing Solutions:

Let’s review the gifts God graciously gave as found in Romans 12:

• Prophesy
• Ministering
• Teaching
• Exhortation
• Giveth
• Ruleth
• Sheweth Mercy

God wants us to reap a bountiful harvest and willingly helps us follow His instructions. When we live the life He shows us in His Word, we will see fruit from our obedience. For example:

• When we sow prophesy,
  we reap others learning about God’s will and ways
• When we sow ministering,
  we reap others being encouraged and not growing weary in God’s work
• When we sow teaching,
  we reap others being discipled so that they can teach others God’s Word
• When we sow exhortation,
  we reap others staying true to God and avoiding the consequences of sin
• When we sow giving,
  we reap the blessings of receiving and laying up treasures in heaven
• When we rule well,
  we reap the benefits of seeing people following God well
• When we sow mercy,
  we reap mercy.

When we share God’s gifts, we’ll see a rich harvest growing from our holy lives.

Bring It Home

What type of harvest are you seeing from your gifts?

Praying for you as we grow together,
Smiles, BRC