Category Archives: Love & Works

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February 12, 2024

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Church & Worship, Holy Spirit, Love & Works, Salvation: A New You, Spiritual Gifts

THE SPIRIT’S GIFTS – Part 1

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. [1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (NLT)]

roseate spoonbillJesus promised the disciples, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.” [John 14:16-17] In fulfillment of that promise, the moment we accept Christ as our Savior, the Holy Spirit moves into our hearts. When He arrives, He helps us but, rather than making the bed or washing dishes, the Spirit comforts, counsels, and convicts us. He gives us the power to share His word, the strength to do His work, and confidence in the fullness of God’s promises.

Like a good house guest, the Holy Spirit also brings us a gift. Unlike most presents, the Spirit’s gifts aren’t tangible, can’t be purchased on Amazon, and are expressly designed for the recipient. Received solely through the grace of God, a spiritual gift is a supernaturally designed ability granted to every believer by which the Spirit ministers to Christ’s church. Like a Craftsman tool, it is meant for building God’s Kingdom and guaranteed to last a lifetime!

Originating from His presence, the Spirit’s gifts are not the natural abilities with which we were born—things like being “double-jointed,” having perfect pitch, or being able to wiggle our ears. Our talents are inherited at birth and developed through the years. Both the unsaved and saved possess talents but only the saved receive the Spirit’s gifts! They are given to us when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior—when we are born again. While talents can be used to serve both ourselves and others, the gifts of the Spirit are used to glorify God as we serve others. Nevertheless, God is not about to waste our talents and skills so His gifts often line up with our natural aptitudes.

Described in Romans 12, Ephesians 4, and 1 Corinthians 12, the Spirit’s gifts are capabilities that enable each of us to build God’s Kingdom: they include things like wisdom, prophecy, administration, teaching, hospitality, discernment,  exhortation, and service. Scripture’s lists, however, vary with translations and are neither definitive nor all-inclusive. God is not a ”one-size-fits-all” designer and, while the Spirit’s gifts have a common origin, they are customized by Him to fit exactly into each believer’s heart.

Just as the master in the Parable of the Talents decided how many talents each of his servants were given, it is God alone who decides the kind of gift or gifts received. Investing their master’s talents in his absence was the task of the servants in that parable and using the gifts of the Spirit to build God’s Kingdom until Jesus returns is our task. Sadly, just because the Holy Spirit has given us a gift doesn’t mean we’ll use it; it can remain hidden away as was the talent received by the lazy servant. Let us remember—things did not go well for the one who failed to make use of his master’s talents! As Christ’s followers, we must be good stewards of whatever gifts we’ve been given so that everything we do “will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ!”

As God’s children, we are not to be observers; we’re to participate actively in the Lord’s work. Spectators sit and watch, but we are called to use our spiritual gifts and serve continually. [Charles Stanley]

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. … Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.  [1 Peter 4:10,11 (NLT)]

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February 8, 2024

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Attitudes & Behavior, Bible Stories, God's Grace & Love, Love & Works, Money & Wealth

THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS [Matthew 25:14-30]

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. [1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV)]

water lilyJesus told several parables regarding the day of His return. The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids stresses being ready before that day occurs and the Parable of the Sheep and Goats describes the separation of obedient followers from unbelievers and pretenders in the final judgment. It is between those two that we find the Parable of the Talents about serving our Master until the day of His return.

Before going on a lengthy journey, the master entrusted his slaves/bondservants with his wealth during his absence. He divided his fortune among the servants according to their ability. Each received no more and no less than what they could manage. The first servant received five talents, the second two, and the third only one. Although the master gave his wealth to his servants, it still belonged to him. Although absent for a time, he retained the rights to both his servants and money. They were only caretakers of what they were given. While unsaid, it was understood that the master expected his servants to wisely invest the talents during his absence. If he hadn’t wanted the talents utilized, he would have taken the safest (and least profitable) way of protecting his money by burying it (as did many in Jesus’ day).

Rather than a coin, the talent (tálanton) was a unit of measurement for precious metals like gold or silver. Weighing about 75 pounds, a talent of silver was worth about 6,000 denarii, roughly 6,000 days (or 20 years) of wages in Jesus’ time. Based on today’s average daily wage, one talent would be the equivalent of $1,344,000 in 2024! Jesus often used hyperbole in his parables and this was no exception. The generous and trusting landowner had entrusted 600 pounds of denarii—the equivalent of over $10,000,000 today—to his servants!

After a long time, the master returned and asked his bondservants for an accounting. Because they immediately put the master’s money to work by investing it, the first and second servants had doubled their master’s fortune. The master praised their faithful stewardship and rewarded them with more responsibilities. The third servant, however, simply hid his one talent in the ground. Rather than accepting responsibility, the man claimed he was afraid of losing it and blamed his idleness on his master by calling him a harsh man. The word translated as harsh was skléros and was used to describe someone unyieldingly harsh or stern, even violent. But, there is nothing in this parable to indicate the master was anything but reasonable to his servants. Remember, the servant was given only what he was capable of handling so there was no excuse for his inaction. By doing nothing, the “wicked and lazy servant” had robbed his master of service and increase!

In this parable, the master represents Jesus, the journey represents His absence until He comes again, the two productive servants represent faithful disciples, and the third servant represents a false/unfaithful disciple. This third man may have lived in his master’s house but, by calling his master skléros, it’s clear he neither knew or loved him! Those who know and love God will serve Him faithfully but, those who don’t, won’t! Like the third servant, they ignore, waste, or misuse God’s gifts and are nothing but “worthless” servants! Jesus concludes this parable by saying that the worthless servant was thrown into the “outer darkness” where there would be “weeping and gnashing of teeth”—a clear reference to hell.

Because the English word “talent,” meaning natural aptitude or skill, comes from the Greek tálanton, it’s easy to think that’s all that Jesus is speaking about. The parable’s tálanton, however, are far more than that; they represent everything and anything by which we can glorify God. Along with our natural talents, they include the gifts of the Spirit along with our time, senses, contacts, reason, skills, influence, strength, privileges, advantages, money, possessions, faith, health, experiences, interests, knowledge, and anything else we possess!

Like the servants, we each have been blessed with a different number of “talents” according to our ability. Nevertheless, even the servant who received only one talent was given a fortune! The issue, however, isn’t how many talents were bestowed or returned—the servant who returned four talents received the same reward as the one who returned ten. The issue is how well we use the “talents” we’ve been given! May we never forget that, while given to us, they belong to the Lord and we are but caretakers of His blessings!

Paul told the Romans, “Each of us will give an account of himself to God.” [14:12] This parable makes it clear that, when Jesus returns, there will be a day of reckoning—a day of both reward and punishment. Right now, we live in the time between Matthew 25:15 and Matthew 25:19—between the day our Master departed and the day of His return. A day of reckoning, however, will come and He will ask us to give an accounting of how we used His talents. Will He say, “Well done, good and faithful servant?”

We see in God’s kingdom there simply is no room for drones, only for working bees. [Brian Bell]

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. [Romans 12:11 (ESV)]

His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” [Matthew 25:21 (ESV)]

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September 21, 2023

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Attitudes & Behavior, Church & Worship, Love & Works, Sharing Our Faith

BROWSERS, CONSUMERS, & INVESTORS

And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. [Acts 2:44-47 (NLT)]

Galena ILOur cottage was near a charming little town known for its history, architecture, and resorts. A popular summer destination, its Main Street was flooded on weekends with tourists checking out the various stores. Chef I’s shop usually was bursting with browsers enjoying samples of his salsas, hot sauces, mustards, BBQ sauces, seasonings, rubs, marinades, fruit preserves, salad dressings, and dips. Although some tasters purchased a jar or two to take back home, they were just browsers. Having purchased something on a whim, they wouldn’t return unless they happened to come back to town.

Sometimes, we have people who are browsers in our churches. While they may pause for a sample, possibly show up on Easter and Christmas, or return when the mood hits, they are simply passing through. A church can’t count on the browsers to keep its doors open!

A little lunch café in our town was regularly patronized by Ron. Although it offered a wide variety of menu items, Ron went there specifically for their “Pig n’ Pineapple” sandwich (pork cutlet, pineapple slice, bacon, mozzarella, onion, and mayo). When the diner stopped serving it, Ron stopped patronizing them. Although he’d gone there regularly, he wasn’t a loyal regular. He didn’t care about the café—only the sandwich—and Ron never returned.

In our churches, we have people who are consumers like Ron. They find one thing they like but, rather than a sandwich, it may be the choir, music, youth group, vacation Bible school, worship time, food bank, or afternoon Bible study. If, for some reason, that thing changes, stops, or they no longer need or want it, like Ron, they disappear. For example, when our church met at the beach, some people regularly stopped and worshipped with us before taking their place in the sand immediately after service. Of course, we only saw them on good beach days and, when hurricane Ian closed the beach and dislocated us, they disappeared! We haven’t moved far, still meet outside, and have a lovely setting overlooking a lake but, since they were consumers who came more for the location than anything else, they didn’t follow us! Just as Ron abandoned a restaurant for lack of a sandwich, they abandoned our church for lack of a beach! They were no more committed to us than Ron was to that café. They were looking to be served rather than serve and to use rather than develop. A church needs more than consumers, it needs commitment.

My friend Maria started as a browser at a resort-wear shop known for its distinctive prints but, after trying on the clothing, she turned into a consumer. Even though everything wasn’t always to her liking, she became loyal to the brand. In fact, Maria became so committed to the store that she started working there. Taking advantage of her employee discount, she became a walking advertisement for the brand. Better than the discount, however, was discovering her knack for helping customers find the perfect outfit and her joy in doing so. Finding the business true to its core values of things like excellence, integrity, continued improvement, making the world a brighter place, and having fun in the process, Maria even took some of her earnings to purchase stock in it.

A church can’t survive on browsers and consumers—it needs people like Maria—people who become committed—who invest their time, talents, and finances in its success. Rather than mere consumers, they become participants, workers, and shareholders in their church. Like Maria, they may not find everything to be a perfect fit or design; nevertheless, they remain committed. Rather than discovering and employing hidden talents as did Maria, they can discover and use their spiritual gifts! Instead of receiving an employee discount or a dividend, people’s cups will overflow with spiritual blessings when they become shareholders in the church. Rather than being a walking advertisement for a clothing brand, they become walking advertisements for Christ and His church.

We are the “living stones” of God’s spiritual temple but we’re no more than bits of gravel when all we do is browse or occasionally stop and shop! Are you a browser, consumer, or a shareholder in God’s kingdom?

And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. [1 Peter 2:5 (NLT)]

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June 1, 2023

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Attitudes & Behavior, Bible Stories, Love & Works, Salvation: A New You

THE HELLENISTS

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. [1 John 3:16-18 (ESV)]

great blue heronIn Acts 6, Luke writes about a problem with the Hellenistic Jewish believers. Meaning “to speak Greek” or “to make Greek,” Hellenism describes Jewish assimilation to the Greek language, manners, and culture. The process started in the 4th century BC with Alexander’s conquest of Palestine when Greeks settled into the land and, at the same time, Jews dispersed throughout Greek empire.

By the 1st century, there were two distinct groups of Jews living in Jerusalem. The first, the “Hebrew” Jews, were those who prided themselves on the fact they’d always lived in the land of the Patriarchs. (By that time, Babylonia and Syria were considered an extension of that land.) Having been born in Palestine, these Hebraic Jews spoke Palestinian Aramaic and/or Hebrew, used the Hebrew Scriptures, lived in or near Judea, observed Jewish customs, and regularly worshipped at the Temple. The other group, referred to as “Hellenized” Jews, consisted of Jews who once lived among Gentiles in Greek cities or Roman colonies. Coming from places like Crete, Cyrene, Alexandria, Cicilia, and Asia, they spoke the Greek language, were more influenced by the Greek philosophers, and used the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures called the Septuagint. Less observant of the Jewish customs and oral traditions that had developed over the centuries in Judea and Babylonia, Hellenists often were clean shaven. Like many immigrants, they settled in areas populated by others like them and had their own synagogues in which they worshiped.

While no less Jewish than their brothers, these Hellenists were looked down upon because they came from other parts of the world. Customarily, pious elderly Jews who were not from Judea would come to Jerusalem so they could die in the land of their people. Although these newcomers came to Judea out of devotion to Jehovah and the Torah, the Hebraic Jews  suspected them of being more Greek than Hebrew and considered them outsiders. The Talmud says the Pharisees considered any Jew not native-born a “second-class Israelite.”

The vast majority of Jesus’ first followers were Hebraic Jews and the new church was led by them. Nevertheless, both Hebraic and Hellenized Jews would have been among the 3,000 who became followers of Christ on Pentecost. In Jewish law, a woman did not receive an inheritance and, if widowed, became dependent on relatives and the community for support. Because so many of the foreign Jews returning to Jerusalem were elderly, there was a disproportionate number of Hellenist widows in their community. Strangers in a new land, the widows had no relatives at hand to care for them as would the Hebrew widows of the longtime residents. Moreover, by choosing to become Christ followers, they may have lost any assistance they might have received from their Hellenist synagogue.

Although the Torah commanded caring for widows and Jesus instructed us to care for the needy, the Hellenist Jews in the new church complained that their widows were being neglected in the food distribution. While the slight may have been the result of the church’s rapid growth, it was deeply felt and threatened the message and unity of the new church. In an example of godly wisdom and Christian unity, the church quickly addressed the problem and commissioned seven men to meet the community’s needs. The standard Greek names of all those chosen indicate the church intentionally chose Hellenists to right the wrong that had been done.

The early church’s neglect of those widows may have been inadvertent but it also may have indicated a larger conflict between two groups with vastly different cultural backgrounds. I wonder if the Hebrew Jews’ long-held contempt for the foreign-born Hellenists (“second-class Israelites”) truly ended when they became Christ followers. Could some people have carried their pre-conversion bias into the church when they became believers? With all of the prejudice, stereotyping, racism, xenophobia, and animosity we have in today’s world, I must ask if we’ve brought any of that into today’s church, as well.

Do we truly love our neighbor and welcome the stranger no matter what their citizenship standing, economic level, political viewpoint, nationality, race, sex, language, or background? We should!

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [Galatians 3:26-28 (ESV)]

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May 11, 2023

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Family, Friends & Fellowship, Holidays & Holy Days, Love & Works, Prayer

PRINCESSES AND QUEENS – Mother’s Day 2023

When a woman is about to give birth, she is in great pain. But after it is all over, she forgets the pain and is happy, because she has brought a child into the world. [John 16:21 (CEV)]

My Mother’s Day prayers will include thanks for the mother and mother-in-law God put in my life, the blessings of motherhood and family, the privilege of seeing my children become adults, and the immeasurable joy of being a grandmother! Because those grands wouldn’t be here were it not for the three beautiful daughters (one by birth and two through marriage) with which He blessed me, I’ll thank God for them, as well.

Years ago, when my girls were mothers of littles, I overheard them recalling the time BC (before children) when they’d been carefree princesses and enjoyed things like spa days, dining out, shopping sprees, weekend jaunts, undisturbed sleep, and free time. Motherhood, however, changed them from princesses to queens and queendom, with its soiled diapers, sleepless nights, spills, tantrums, and never-ending laundry, was hard work. The girls couldn’t remember when last they’d donned their princess tiaras or skinny jeans and realized their last manicure was done by a four-year old. Designer purses had been traded for diaper bags and five minutes alone in the bathroom was more precious than a massage. Date nights had given way to play dates, a child’s scribbles were more valuable than fine art, and the name of a reliable baby sitter was better protected than a pin number. Queendom required an entirely new skill set and they now could fix ouchies with a Disney Band-Aid and a kiss, had developed a third eye on the back of their heads, and could sing “The Wheels on the Bus” endlessly without going crazy. The young women weren’t complaining; they knew how blessed they were by God’s gift of children. Nevertheless, the enormity of their responsibilities weighed heavy on their shoulders.

When motherhood turned my daughters from princesses into queens, their hearts expanded and they put aside their desires for the needs of their children. They learned about patience, compassion, and love. They carried the burden of living by example (which involved far more than eating their veggies and always saying “please” and “thank you”). They knew that little eyes were watching as they offered courtesy for rudeness, forgiveness for wrongs, and love to even the most unlovable. Queendom required them to be calm when they were anxious, strong when they felt weak, and brave when their knees were shaking. Princesses can cry and get flustered but queens wipe tears and offer reassurance. Like any good monarch, my girls learned about sacrifice and what it means to live for others. They learned that being a queen has nothing to do with crowns, thrones, robes, power, or wealth; it’s all about love.

In the years since that conversation, my girls have come up with last-minute science projects and become proficient in constructing anything from the White House to the Great Sphinx with popsicle sticks and Elmer’s glue. They’ve weathered adolescent rebellion, emergency room visits, prom drama, teen angst, home-schooling, and the college application process. Along the line, they developed an uncanny ability to detect a child’s malarky, wiped more tears than can be counted, and logged more hours behind the wheel than a cross-country trucker. As some of the grands start flying off, my girls are discovering that a mama’s love and responsibility doesn’t end when her babies leave the nest! Motherhood is a tough job and one that never really ends. They also know that motherhood is a beautiful gift from God.

I recalled my girls’ conversation this morning because, while walking in the park, I encountered several young mothers and mothers-to-be—a new set of young women who are trading in their princess tiaras for a queen’s crown made of construction paper, tape, stickers, glitter, and glue. Let’s not forget to pray for the next generation of queens. Don’t limit your prayers to the mothers you know and love; pray for them all—including the frazzled mom whose child is having a melt down at Target, the one with the noisy kids at church, and even the one with the crying baby sitting behind you on the plane.

In today’s increasingly divisive, violent, self-absorbed, and self-indulgent world—a world that’s beginning to resemble the godless future of Brave New World, Fahrenheit 451, and Nineteen Eighty-Four—today’s mothers desperately need our prayers (as well as our patience, grace, and kindness). When the Apostle Paul said to pray for everyone, he specifically mentioned praying for kings. Let’s remember to pray for the queens, as well!

There is more power in a mother’s hand than in a king’s scepter. [Billy Sunday]

First of all, I ask you to pray for everyone. Ask God to help and bless them all, and tell God how thankful you are for each of them. Pray for kings and others in power, so we may live quiet and peaceful lives as we worship and honor God. This kind of prayer is good, and it pleases God our Savior. [1 Timothy 2:1-3 (CEV)]

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December 26, 2022

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God's Grace & Love, Joy, Love & Works, Peace of God

PEACE ON EARTH

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. [Isaiah 9:6-7a (NLT)]

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” [Luke 2:13-14 (NLT)]


Isaiah prophesied a Prince of Peace, the angels proclaimed peace on earth to the shepherds, and Jesus promised us His peace but one glance at the news tells us that peace certainly doesn’t reign in our world today. We have wars, injustice, prejudice, intolerance, hate-filled speech, anger, abuse, violence, greed, and indifference.

In a world filled with conflict, it looks like God reneged on His promise of peace. It wasn’t God, however, who failed us—we are the ones who failed Him. Far too often God’s gift of peace is like a book we’re given but never take the time to read or a gift card we lose when tossing out the wrapping paper. While peace is His gift, we are the ones who have to implement it. Unfortunately, all too often, we allow fear, pride, bigotry, bias, arrogance, resentment, apathy, exasperation and wrath to shove peace right out of our hearts and lives.

Inner peace hinges on having a relationship with God. The angels brought their message of peace to the world because Jesus’ presence enables mankind to have peace if we are in relationship with Him. Inner peace, however, is not enough. For peace on earth, we must have peace with others and therein lays the problem. Our egos just can’t seem to accept the humility, selflessness, and devotion required to love the unlovable, touch the untouchable, turn the other cheek, treat our neighbors as ourselves, pray for our enemies, forgive, or have compassion on those in need (especially if they don’t look, talk, or act like us). As a result, true peace escapes us. If there ever is to be peace on earth, it must begin with us!

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for the gift of peace that came wrapped as a baby in Bethlehem. Forgive us for the way we’ve ignored this precious gift. Help us resolve the differences in our homes and families, community, nation, and world by bringing a portion of your peace to everyone we encounter. As we become your peace makers, may there be peace on earth.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. [St. Francis of Assisi]

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. [John 14:27 (NLT)]

God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. [Matthew 5:9 (NLT)]

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