What gifts has God given you? - Ruminating in the Word of God.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Judges 13:25,

"The Spirit of the Lord began to stir him [Samson] while he was in
Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol."

Samson had tremendous abilities and strength given him by the Lord. It
is in this verse we read of the first stirrings of this empowerment,
this enablement. The accounts of Samson are amazing. He tore a young
lion apart with his bare hands, he killed 30 men from Ashkelon to pay
off a bet over a riddle, he destroyed the grain crops, vineyards and
olive groves of the Philistines with three hundred foxes he had
caught, he killed a thousand Philistines one day with a jawbone of a
donkey, he ripped down the massive doors of the city gate in Gaza,
together with the posts and dragged them up a hill, and at the end he
pulled down the temple of Dagon killing thousands of Philistines.

The strength and power manifested by Samson did not have its origin
within him, but was given him from the Lord. The Lord had gifted
Samson. I am reminded we all are given gifts from the Lord to
accomplish the things he desires of us. "We have different gifts,
according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let
him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him
serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him
encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give
generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is
showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully." Romans 12:6-8.

The Lord expects us to utilize the gifts he has given us, "Each one
should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully
administering God's grace in its various forms." When we exercise
these gifts we need not feel "proud" of ourselves for having done so
as if these gifts originated within us, or as if we are doing God or
others a favor. We are only discharging what is expected of us. Jesus
taught us, "So you also, when you have done everything you were told
to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our
duty.'" Luke 17:10.

For me, I find this to be one of the many mystical and enchanting
things the Lord does within us as believers. The Lord is active in our
lives and provides us abilities and tools to do the things he desires
to accomplish. It is in the accomplishment of these things, with their
eternal ramifications, that provide us with true and meaningful
purpose and fulfillment in this life, something sorely needed by many
in our day.

The question I have for myself this morning: am I doing those things
the Lord wants me to do with the gifts he has given me? How about you?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com