We all know people who are caught up in worshiping the stuff right, and heck it might just be you, I know I’ve been guilty of it many times. So my sister we are going to put things into perspective today and try to put a new lens on this, to see how the resources that God blesses us each with are designed to be stewarded in a way to bring praise and glory to his name.
The scripture verse(s) we talk about today include: 1 Peter 4:10 (Same verse as last week...we are just digging deeper with it!)
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xoxox
Sarah Elizabeth
Our Faith Your Day Declaration!
Jesus, thank you so much for loving me in the way that you do! You designed me on purpose for a purpose. I want to live to my full potential today, with a mindset that honors you and a soul that seeks to know you better. Jesus I know that you are the way, the truth and the life, and I ask you to guide me and reveal to me what it is that you want to show me here, have me experience here, and learn from this season. Help mold me and shape me into the best version of me. I will live today as your vessel ready to receive your word, respond to your promptings, and pour out your overflowing love to those all around me. Please allow your thoughts to become my thoughts, your ways to become my ways and your will to become what I truly desire. Jesus if you are in it I want it and if you are not I don’t! I choose to faith this day of life! I am so grateful to be your girl! In Jesus name Amen!
Do you remember last episode when I said that our primary purpose while here on earth is to bring glory to God. For eons people have been asking why are we here, what is the point of life…and well there you have it…we as God’s creations have been placed here so that we can bring glory to him; not because he needs the praise and attention, but because he knows our hearts well enough to know that if we aren’t focused on praising him…we are going to get distracted and caught up praising other things instead. Our hearts are idol making factories, and it’s God’s hope that we will be in awe of the creator, rather than something that’s been created. We all know people who are caught up in worshiping the stuff right, and heck it might just be you, I know I’ve been guilty of it many times. So my sister we are going to put things into perspective today and try to put a new lens on this, to see how the resources that God blesses us each with are designed to be stewarded in a way to bring praise and glory to his name. I know that might sound like a lofty goal for a Tuesday morning, but trust me this is going to be clearer than it sounds.
Last week we used a verse from 1 Peter 4:10- and surprise we are going to revisit the same verse today! From the angle we are looking at today, we are going to be able to squeeze out so much more goodness from it. It says: Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
Now in the actual context of this chapter the gifts that are being referred to are spiritual gifts, but today I thought it would be interesting if we considered some of our physical resources as well as our talents and abilities as it’s super easy to forget that those too actually come to us by means of God’s grace and goodness.
I want you to think about some of the resources you have in your possession currently. Things like a vehicle, furniture, clothing, appliances etc. Now you might have the best of the best, or you might be wishing for an upgrade in a bad way, but regardless just hold some of these things in your mind right now. Now I want you to add in mental images of family members, friends, your workplace, your hobbies, talents and skills. Right now in your mind is a very familiar collage. The things that kind of make you feel like you don’t they? And these are the things that can be used to praise and bring glory to God!
The good news is that nowadays we don’t have to make actual sacrifices to God for him to receive our praise…so you won’t need to burn up your car on an altar, or set your kitchen ablaze to bring him some glory…but you certainly can use these resources he has blessed you with to bring honour to his name. Everything you currently own, rent, lease, or borrow can be useful. Let’s look at a few practical examples. So our verse begins with: Each of you should use whatever gift you have received, and again this week I want to point out that the “whatever gift” is specific to the fact that each of us have received something different. So if your car is a rust bucket, or an old clunker, that doesn’t dismiss it from being useful. Sure your neighbour might be making giant payments on their shiny new ride, but girl they have their own race to run…just focus on your lane because it’s in being able to appreciate what you have right now, even if it’s not exactly what you’d choose, it shows God that you are grateful for the gift, and shows that you recognize where our gifts come from. This is one of those “if you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones.” That Luke talks about in chapter 16. The verse then goes on to say…that that gift is to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace. Ok so let’s put this into practical terms. Whatever gifts you have…even beyond your spiritual ones…can be used to bless and serve others, if you are a faithful steward with them. Here’s what that can look like. Your vehicle can be offered back to God when it becomes a place where you play music that praises the Lord, or shuttles kids to playgroup, or senior citizens to appointments. Your commute doesn’t have to be boring or stressful, it can be used as an intentional opportunity to listen to a podcast or playlist that honours Jesus. What if your oven was able to do more than just cook things that make your kids cringe. What if your oven was a tool that now baked delicious treats for shut ins, and prepared delivered meals for those who are sick or experiencing grief. What if boots that you own aren’t just for throwing on as you head outside, but what if they are the boots that are on your feet as you take a prayer walk on your lunch break. What if the job you went to everyday wasn’t just a place you dreaded, but a place that you brought Jesus to each day with you. What if the customers you see are future Christians who see the light of Jesus radiating brightly from you. What if the knitting you do in your downtime could be used to make mittens for kids or hats for preemies. What if the songs you sing in the shower, could be sung to a lonely resident in a nursing home. Your smart phone could be so much more than what it currently is, if it’s used to call people to remind them how much they are loved. Every thing you have been blessed with can become a blessing for others…and my sister that’s the whole point! God blesses you so that you can bless others!
Now, I am fully aware that I am in great need of this message as well, that I need to be reminded how to get creative with using what I already have to bless and serve others. Whether it be through giving of our time, resources, creating experiences others love, or enhancing someone's live in various ways. Both the people we already know and people we have yet to meet can benefit from this generosity and recognition of how we can pay forward what we are currently stewarding. I truly believe that God wants to bless you, and bless you abundantly, and I also truly believe that he is paying close attention to how you use what you’ve already been given. Remember you attract more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. Being sour and miserable about what you have, because it’s not to the standard or style you want…doesn’t show gratitude to God, it’s kind of like putting on pouty brat face right. If your own kids act entitled, unappreciative and ungrateful about what you have given them, it doesn’t really get you pumped up to bless them more does it. It’s when the gratitude is on full display for what they already have that you feel compelled to bless them more right. And my sister I bet this is exactly how we become even more blessed too, my being so appreciative of anything and everything we currently get to steward, because we know the source of the blessings.
Today I encourage you to consider examples of “every day things” that could easily be taken for granted, or undervalued. Things that you might not really stop to ever consider how they could bring glory to God’s name. Ask God to help highlight the ways in which they can be used to help someone, bring about generosity, or add value to someone’s life. You already have the resource, God’s already put the tool in your hand…now how are you going to put it to use to show a little more Jesus in our world today.