As followers of Jesus, you and I find ourselves to be in Sacred Relationship with God. As I
wrote last month that Sacred Relationship involves a Sacred Calling, Sacred Gifting, Sacred Service, and Sacred Generosity. To review, Each of us is created to have a Sacred Calling that gives us significance and purpose. We were created for a reason. God would never create us for a purpose without giving us the tools necessary to fulfill that purpose, hence, He makes available to us Sacred Gifting, empowered by His Spirit. As I shared February 18, the Spirit of God comes upon us for special circumstances and lives within us to guide us, comfort us and prepare us for living.
A key part of living is learning to live in community, with others, our families and the
Church. I would encourage you to read 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, 1 Peter 4:10-11. In
those passages it’s clear that God gives us Sacred Gifts to edify or build up those
communities. Spiritual gifts are not given to build us up, but others. God gives those gifts and distributes them as they are needed in the community of faith. Some suggest that we should demand of God certain gifts. Paul suggests that we seek Faith, Hope and Love. In my reading, I’ve become convinced that celibacy is a spiritual gift. I’ve never heard a sermon about seeking that gift. Aside from desiring to serve the body with your gift, demanding a certain gift from God reminds me of the petulant child demanding that one gift (or many) for Christmas. You’ve been there, perhaps as a child, and certainly as a parent or grandparent.
The giving of Sacred Gifts calls for Sacred use of those gifts and the wisdom to use them to the edification of others. I am always amazed that whenever God gives us something or requires something of us, He also makes a way for us. We need wisdom, and so James 1:5-8 encourages us to ask for it and that God will respond by giving us wisdom, wisdom beyond our need. Good golly, Miss Molloy, ain’t God great!
Based upon your reading and reflecting on His Word, what Sacred Gifts has God given you? How do you think God wants you to use them in the context of your Sacred Call. Think on it. God will respond.
Pastor Brian