2nd Sunday in Epiphany
Scripture: 1st Corinthians 12:1-11
As we look at our scripture, I sense that Paul is saying, “Wake
up. Don’t be ignorant of our spiritual gifts.”
Having been created in God’s image, we all have gifts to
serve Him for the advancement of His kingdom on earth. It is with these gifts daily
we are to worship our Lord.
Now, there is no gift greater than any other. Some may
appear greater, but they are all to strike a cord in our lives, for the
scriptures tell us that even a cool glass of water given on a hot, August day
to a stranger will not go unnoticed by our Lord.
While we think the actions of our love that directly produce
a new soul for the kingdom are the only gifts of service for the Lord, I beg to
differ with you.
Our local church family here at Peniel is abundantly rich
with gifts to offer to the Kingdom
of God
Let me start with the gift of music. In our music ministry
here at Peniel, Pat is worship chairperson and director of the choir. She
selects the music we sing each week.
There are Deloris, Jeff, and Linda, who cause our hearts to
be lifted up with the instruments of music.
A choir of 10-15 persons to sing the praises of the Lord.
And the congregation.
Meanwhile, all these people lift up the spirit of our living
Lord in our lives week after week.
The leadership of the church is enriched and blessed in many
different gifts of administration.
Linda, David, and Ruth deal with the church funds.
Leslie is a board chairperson, associate lay leader, and
assistant teacher.
Lester, Joan, Ruth, Linda, and a host of others are all
teachers.
The whole church family is missionaries through our outreach
programs.
·
school supplies
·
Clothing Tree
·
Bear Ministry
·
Weekly gathering of food for the food pantry
The above are only a few of the programs we join.
We are truly blessed and enriched by our prayer ministry,
the prayer warriors who pray daily for countless others.
I want to cry out loud when someone says, “I don’t have any
special gifts to offer to the Lord.”
My blessed child, you are that gift by the way you share your
life each and every moment of every day.
A smile can chase the blues away for someone. A kind word can
turn the blues of gloom and distress into hope and a ray of sunshine.
While I may not have mentioned your name, each and every one
who enters this church service, or who is out and about, or who is home ill, you
are a gift beyond your greatest imagination for the Lord, breathing new life into
each and every situation. You are His greatest gift of life, that you may share
your life with others in countless ways.
Let us pause and praise the Lord for the gifts He has endowed
to us as individuals.
