Posts
Burnt Snowmen
By Susanne Scheppmann
Key
Verse:
“For this reason I remind
you to fan into flame the gift of God,
which
is in you through the laying on of my hands.”
2 Timothy 1:6 (NIV)
Devotion:
The
snowmen dressed in red mufflers and black stovepipe hats stood cheerily on the
dining room table. Amidst all the
Christmas decorations, their presence brought the most oohs and ahs. Everyone at
the party asked my friend, “Where did you buy them?”
I
smiled. I had bought the snowmen candles for my friend as her Christmas gift. I
thought to myself, “You did well!”
A
group of us chatted around the dining room table. We nibbled on sugar cookies.
Holiday gaiety floated through the room. We laughed together until, all of
sudden, I noticed smoke emitting from all three of the wax snowmen candles.
Before I could speak, flames spewed up and out of the stovepipe hats. The
candles burst into flames, spreading into the other table decorations. My
friend shrieked for help. Her husband, a firefighter by profession, ran into
the room and doused the candles with the bowl of fruit punch that sat on a side
table.
We
sat in shocked silence. Instead of feeling pride over my gift, I hung my head
in embarrassment. Now everyone wanted to know where I had purchased the fire
hazard, because they didn’t want to buy anything of the same nature.
Thankfully,
God’s gifts to us are never a fire hazard, but Scripture does tell us to allow
them to burn brightly. The apostle Paul instructs, “I remind you to fan into
flame the gift of God, which is in you” . . . 2 Timothy 1:6 NIV). The Lord
doesn’t want us to sit by quietly with unused abilities. He does not want us to
be shy about His precious gifts. He wants us to use them to bless others.
We
may think we do not have a gift. The truth of Scripture promises us, “But each
man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that” (1
Corinthians 7:7 NIV). We can’t argue with that, can we?
So
what spiritual gift do you have that Christ wants you to use this Christmas
season? Consider Romans12:6-8, “We have different gifts, according to the grace
given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his
faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it
is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of
others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern
diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully” (NIV).
Let’s start right now with encouragement. Let’s
encourage each other to allow our spiritual gifts to burn brightly during the
Advent Season. And, as we fan our gifts into flames, let’s pray that others
will recognize the glory of the Most High God who slept in a cold dark manger.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you for giving me my spiritual
gifts. Teach me how to use them, so that others may see You and desire to know
You more. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Application
steps:
Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, 27-30; Romans 12:3-8;
and Ephesians 11-13. Read the Power Verses below and search your concordance
for Scriptures that speak of spiritual gifts. Then ask the Lord to reveal your
personal spiritual gifts.
Reflections:
Do
I know my spiritual gifts?
How
do I utilize the gifts that God has given to me?
Do
I fan my gifts into flame to burn brightly for the glory of God?
Power
verses:
Exodus
35:31, “And he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and
knowledge in all kinds of crafts.” (NIV)
Acts
9:36,39, “In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated,
is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor . . . Peter went
with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the
widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing
that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.” (NIV)
© 2008 by Susanne Scheppmann. All rights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment