Gifts of Grace: Your Design & Destiny, Pt. 2 “How to Use What You Have” (Audio Message)
"But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift." ~ Ephesians 4:7
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10
“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God..." 1 Peter 4:10
“To be what we are, and to become what we are capable of becoming, is the only end of life.” ~ Robert Louis Stevenson
Creativity or talent, like electricity, is something I don't understand but something I'm able to harness and use. ~Maya Angelou
Grace = God’s ability
Measure = How much God gives
Gift = What God gives
What you will become is already inside of you. Talent is like potential, it does not amount to much unless you do something with it.
A GIFT is an ability or potential ability you received from God when you were born. It must be developed. “Use it or lose it.”
An ABILITY is a learned skill
An APTITUDE is a talent or capacity to do something. Some people have a gift to sing, draw, or run fast. People with ability to sing, draw or run fast learn to do it better. People with an aptitude to sing, draw, or run fast need to discover it and do something with it.
The concept of talent is overrated. When someone does something very well, we usually say that person did it because of "talent." Talent is a starting point for some, but people who work hard at something become more successful than people who only have talent. More than anything else, success comes from working with what God has given you, following your heart, being trained, practicing, and doing your best.
Sometimes people think they have no talent, but that’s only because they think talent is something visible like singing and drawing. There are many kinds of talents/aptitudes.
The purpose of training and education are to develop your gifts, acquire ability, and exercise your talents/aptitudes.
Romans 12:3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
Paul did not say to think less of yourself. He said think of yourself in proper context and according to your faith.
“Don’t think you are better than you really are...” We would say today, “Don’t have the big head.”
Who you are right now is more than enough, if you are looking through the perspective of grace and the eyes of grace (God’s ability).
Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Romans 12:3
“.....But to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” Romans 12:3 NKJV
You are what you believe you are. Your measure of faith is vital. When someone expresses doubt in what they can do, they won’t do it...not because they can’t do it, but because they have become unwilling to believe.
“Without faith, it is impossible to please God....” (Heb. 11:6)
Listen to this teaching on the Firm Foundation Podcast:
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