Imagine a table set up in a room with a million different gifts on it. Now imagine a table next to that one with place settings and a hot meal. You’re the guest of honor, dining with The Lord himself but he has also invited you to take a gift. You shy away from taking a gift, or even more than one, and sit to eat with him instead. It’s a wonderful mealtime, filled with laughter, joy, and serious conversation but he still wants you to go get a gift. You again politely refuse, waving your hands, saying, “No thanks, I just couldn’t, you’ve been too kind already. The meal and your company is a gift in itself!”. There’s a certain disappointment in His eyes but he respects your decision. You feel awkward now and the meal ends.
Why haven’t we gone to the table to receive gifts?
Modern Christians have said and heard “seek God’s face, not his Hand”, meaning to be in relationship with him rather than ask of him what you need or want. However, He makes it clear that he gives gifts to us and for us! 2 Peter 1:3 says, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." He gives gifts to us to use as tools; for enjoyment, for battle, for encouragement, for edification, for growth, for relationship, for ministry, etc… The gifts are: 1 Cor 12:8-10
Eph 4:7-13
Rom 12:3-8
In her book Believing Jesus, Lisa Harper writes: “…these aren’t gifts Christ-followers have the option of refusing.” And “…the gifts themselves are non-negotiable and non-refundable.” When God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit within us sets up a table of gifts, we have the ability to freely approach it and take whatever and how much of what we need/want. The Holy Spirit lives inside of us as an encapsulated Kingdom of God ready and willing to distribute faith, grace, mercy, strength, gifts, etc. Intimacy with Him allows us to receive it all freely. Free from attached strings. Free from guilt. Free from debt. Free from the spotlight of prying eyes. Free from performance. Free from the feeling of being unworthy or undeserving. Free from selfishness. Free from vulnerability with persons. In a fully intimate relationship with the triune God, we are able to experience His full intent for us. Vulnerability is a requisite for entering into intimacy. We must bare our insufficiencies, our insecurities, and our faults. We must step into the spotlight since we are the one and only object of his affection. Imagine stepping into a dark room lit with only one spotlight where you will be examined from head to toe and inside out. It is frightening to consider! But the examiner is the one who created you, the one who protects you, and the one who nestles you into His loving kindness. The One who clothes you in His righteousness. There is no earning His gifts. He lavishly pours them upon us when we enter His tent. When He is able to look upon our exposed hearts, He then sets His own gifts within us, unselfishly and without strings.
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AuthorJenn is a mom of three children and wife of 10 yrs. She has been involved in ministry visual engineer. She has a Master's degree in Communication Sciences & Disorders and has worked as a pediatric Speech Language Pathologist for 12 years. ArchivesCategories
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