As you know, Marble Collegiate is living into a year-long theme, One Spirit, Many Gifts. We are trying to assist one another in discerning how God has gifted us and how God wants us to use that equipment for church and world.
There's a powerful old adage we've all heard a thousand times, but it bears repeating: "No one can do everything, but everyone can do something!" That is undeniably true. We are all equipped by God to some something... something to make the church stronger, something to make the city better, something to make someone else feel safe or valued or loved. Jesus said to his disciples: "Take up your cross and follow me." In other words, He told them it wasn't enough merely to believe, but that our belief is meant to give birth to action. We are meant to take up our equipment for life and do something with it. Some actions are visible, some more subtle, but all are vital.
I love the old story about a minister who one day decided he was wasting time writing sermons. After all, he thought, "God is the real preacher. I'm just the vehicle. It's almost unfaithful for me to work on what I want to say and not give God the chance to say what God wants to say. So, I'm not going to do it anymore." All week long, rather than spending time in the study, praying, writing, editing, re-writing, and memorizing, he spent his time playing golf. It was a great week. He played five rounds in five days. Then came Sunday. Just before he stood to preach, the minister bowed his head and prayed, "O Lord, what do you want me to tell these people today?" And in the silence he heard God's voice answer, "Why don't you tell them how to putt!" Funny story... but with a serious message: God helps those who help themselves. For us, Christian discipleship is always a matter of faith-and-works, never simply of faith alone. Once we have received God's Grace, we are always expected to do something with it. Or, as you have heard me quote from Bill Easum before: "God's love always comes to us on its way to somebody else!"
One Spirit, Many Gifts. There will be ongoing opportunities this year (Retreats as we had with Ron Farr, classes, group studies, etc.) to try and determine what your gifts are and how to employ them for God’s purposes. This much we know: God has endowed you with a special talent, and there is some specific way that the church or the world needs it. Remember -- No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. |