Open your homes to each other without complaining. 10 And serve each other according to the gift each person has received, as good managers of God’s diverse gifts.
Reflection
I’ve spent much of my life envious of the gifts of the other family members of my generation. There’s the ambitious leader, the creative innovator, the thoughtful intellect, then there’s me. I, being the one to pursue ministry, often longed for the talents of these women, as I always thought they were all a much better fit for this strange and beautiful vocation. They are all quite gifted in their fields. I found comradery amongst the writers of our Hebrew Bible prophets, like Moses, Jonah, and Jeremiah. They all felt God’s call on their lives yet viewed themselves as inadequate and ill-equipped for the task, even to the point of actively trying to do the opposite of what was being asked of them.
I reached a plateau though, as I came to terms with the fact that I was not being a good steward of the gifts God has offered inside of me. It wasn’t until I was able to receive those gifts well, not trying to make myself have the gifts of others, that I could live into my call and into the person God was calling me to be.
“..serve each other according to the gift each person has received…” This is less then easy when we are a listener who wants to be a speaker, a writer who wants to be a painter, a visionary who wants to be a builder. When we can stop looking over to what we wish we had and instead recognize, receive, celebrate what God has gifted to us, we can begin to live into our truest, fullest selves.
By Rachel Callender
For Pondering & Prayer
Can you name a spiritual gift you have? Have you ever been resistant to it? What can you do today to receive God’s gifts more fully today?
Prayer: Holy God, we thank you for the many gifts you have placed inside us. Forgive us for when we have not received them well. Lead us today into your call on our lives. Amen.
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