- The US has only one Statue of Liberty, located on Liberty Island, a gift from France.
- The Lord has created only one of YOU, a gift from God.
- The single Statue of Liberty makes it extra special for our country as we remember the special challenges the liberators of our freedom encountered long ago.
- You are also one-of-kind, created for a very special task for the Lord.
- You are unique with a special Kingdom job according to your ability. (Matthew 25:15)
The Spirit gave each of us a special joy and way of helping spread His Word to others. (I Corinthians 12:7-9a) Paul speaking . . .“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit . . .” (I Corinthians 12:7-9a).
Paul lists several gifts. We are each unique, but must be responsible for using our talent(s) for the growth of the Church, the Body of Christ. If ‘self’ does not carry out his or her gift, talent, purpose, or assignment, the job will not be done.
Our talent or responsibility, however, is not to stand immobile like a marble statue. We must determine whether our job is speaking before a group, chatting with a stranger, creating a tidy environment around the building, or designing a wheel chair ramp for the needy. Perhaps cooking spaghetti or an angle food cake for hungry children, reading and singing songs to lonely kiddos, or praying with hospitalized seniors fits your bag of talents.
The chef is not expected to repair the freezer. The musician is not responsible for creating the violin or drum-set necessary for sharing the Lord’s message. Grandmothers need not build the rocking chair used while reading Bible stories to wee ones. We each have skills, talents, and/or interest of varying degrees of expertise. Get busy. Use them.
The challenge is to identify that uniqueness and courageously share with others. You don’t have to do everything. Wouldn’t it be funny if everyone thought his/her God given gift was answering the church phone and smiling at visitors arriving at the church building? We’d have a jammed office grabbing for the ringing ding-a-ling but the building would look a jumbled mess, as there would be no custodians to empty the wastebaskets the office staff filled with notes for the preacher. After all, if everyone is working in the tiny office, there would be no preacher, so notes for him would just be written and then thrown in the round container sitting on the floor by the one crowded desk area.
Crazy isn’t it? But stop and think? Do we have a possible, ‘real-life,’ crazy senario? How many sitting in the church pews on Sunday morning think consciously or unconsciously that listening to a weekly, sixty-minute service is his/her total responsibility to the Lord. Can you think of a friend who seldom or maybe never volunteers for any job around the building or in the community? Could some reading this ‘crazy’ piece actually fail to acknowledge and use the talent the Lord gave them?
When have you helped serve the Lord’s Supper, greeted people at the door, helped in the nursery with the screaming or smiling babies, taken the high school kids on a crazy outing, or even made a call to a member missing service for a few weeks? Hum!!! Perhaps the lawn even needs mowing around the building or at the home of a widow with three young children to care for each day. Get the idea?
There is something YOU can do for the Lord. No Kingdom job is unimportant. The woman at the well merely gave the Lord a drink of water. David used a simple slingshot to stop a war. The wisemen brought three simple presents to the young child of God. A little lad shared his lunch of five loaves and a couple of sardines, and feed several thousand people that day on the hillside. Probably the kid didn’t even fix his own lunch, yet we know what a service that was for the hungry crowd.
So, dear readers, the Statue of Liberty has a simple job of reminding us of our freedom as citizens of the United States. Likewise, you too must identify your special, unique talent or ability God gave you to remind the world of the freedom we have in Christ. If you are currently a cheerful talent sharer, praises. If your talent, however, is hidden under a bushel basket, in your mental closet, go hunting. Get the courage to use it.
Possible New Year Resolution
Get My Feet Going Lord. I Want To Be A Worker in Your Kingdom
Kathryn Ransom 