Daily Devotional December 3, 2020

Margaret is our church historian.  She’s the sort of person who knows who shot JFK, where Jimmy Hoffa’s body is buried, and the true purpose of Stonehenge.  She’s a very impressive woman.

Recently, Margaret has been assembling portraits of all our senior pastors to display in the church archives.

Yesterday, Margaret stopped by Dennis Hall to show me my portrait.  As expected, I looked great.

As I stared at me, which is one of my all-time favorite things to do, my eyes kept drifting to the picture frame.  It was almost as good looking as my picture.  Then she told me it’s history.

This picture frame had been in her family for 75 years.  It had held a photograph of her mother, brother, and sister.

I asked why she would remove her family’s picture and put my picture in such a cherished item.

She explained she had placed her family picture on a large photo album she was working on.  Then she went on to explain my portrait had been a collaborative effort.

She told me Amy had taken the picture.  Paul had used his expert photography skills to touch it up (I didn’t want to know what that meant.)  And then Margaret had framed the photo.  This got me thinking.

That’s how it works in church.  We each have to play our part to be successful for God’s kingdom.

This is exactly what Paul meant by saying, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.  There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.”  (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

So, know that God has made you for a reason.  God intends to use your gift to compliment someone else’s gift to bring about something new and beautiful.  That’s what happens whenever our gifts are used to bring light into dark lives, relieve people of their guilt, and help them understand that God’s love is a gift they do not have to earn, merit, or deserve.  It’s free.

Prayer:  Dear Gracious Heavenly God, today, I offer myself to you without reservation or hesitation.  Please use my meager gifts for your purpose.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

God gave you a gift that is part of his grand mosaic to bring the world to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. 

It’s up to you to use it.  I hope you will.

Also, if you happen to be at the church, stop by the archives to look at the portrait of the most handsome pastor in the history of pastors in the most beautiful frame in the history of frames.  It will change your life.

I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins