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 1 Timothy 1:12,
"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service."
Paul speaks of the charge the Lord had given him as an apostle. He goes on to say that it was in spite of him being the worst of sinners, verse 15. As Paul speaks of this service the Lord appointed him to, he acknowledges it was the Lord who had placed this trust in him and gave him the strength to perform.
I am mindful that all we believers might say the same thing. Although we are not appointed as apostles, the Lord, nevertheless, has provided each of us our own tasks in service to him, equipping and strengthening us for them, and entrusting us the responsibility for what we accomplish. I read in 1 Peter 4:10-11, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."
In that passage in 1 Peter 4, I read that each of us have received some "gift" or gifts from God in service to others, as well as the strength to employ them. We all have a part to play in God's kingdom and in advancing his agenda in the world today. In Romans 12:4-8 we read, "For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts,according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." We are all gifted by God for a purpose in his program of redemption, the building of his kingdom.
In Ephesians 4:11-13 we read, "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." It is those very "works of service" for which I believe the Lord not only raised up some to equip the rest of us, but also, as with Paul, for which the Lord provides us the strength, as he entrusts us for results.
"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service."
Paul speaks of the charge the Lord had given him as an apostle. He goes on to say that it was in spite of him being the worst of sinners, verse 15. As Paul speaks of this service the Lord appointed him to, he acknowledges it was the Lord who had placed this trust in him and gave him the strength to perform.
I am mindful that all we believers might say the same thing. Although we are not appointed as apostles, the Lord, nevertheless, has provided each of us our own tasks in service to him, equipping and strengthening us for them, and entrusting us the responsibility for what we accomplish. I read in 1 Peter 4:10-11, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."
In that passage in 1 Peter 4, I read that each of us have received some "gift" or gifts from God in service to others, as well as the strength to employ them. We all have a part to play in God's kingdom and in advancing his agenda in the world today. In Romans 12:4-8 we read, "For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts,according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." We are all gifted by God for a purpose in his program of redemption, the building of his kingdom.
What is striking to me about this is that God has entrusted us with these tasks! He leaves us the responsibility to accomplish what he desires! Talk about meaningful purpose in life!
The Lord has entrusted us all with things he wants to see accomplished. How are we doing with them?
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!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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