6 minute read
My devotional: Your gift, your purpose, your joy
from TT 154
by TIMES TODAY
By Liz Omondi | Email: timestodayke@gmail. com
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John 3:27-30
Even before he was brought forth into this world, he leaped for joy in his mother’s womb at the sound of his relative and the mother’s of his Lord’s voice.
For his mother Elizabeth declared, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.” Luke 1:42-44
Soon afterwards, baby John was born and grew and became strong in the spirit living in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel. From very early in his life, John knew his mission. He has been referred throughout Scripture by his purpose and so we call him John the baptist.
John knew his gift and his mission and purpose was crystal clear carrying it out with grit determination. He publicly declared, “As for me, I baptise you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Luke 3:16
Have you identified your gift from heaven?
James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
If you have identified your gift, how are you using it?
1 Peter 4:10 exhorts “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”
Saul turned Paul was also a very gifted man. He was eloquent and a good debater who was very knowledgeable. He was overly zealous in whatever he did. However, it was only until he had an encounter with Jesus Christ that he knew what his mission was and how to use his gift for God’s glory.
After his dramatic encounter with Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, Jesus sent a man called Ananias to spell out Paul’s mission for him. Despite his reluctance to go meet Saul for he heard what kind of an evil man he was, Jesus commanded him,“Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
Paul obeyed this call zealously carried out his mission. He said, “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind a n d straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14
Severally in the Scripture, Jesus declares His purpose too. As a matter of fact, He is God’s gift to the world. Paul says, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15. Jesus from a very early age tells his parents Mary and Joseph when they lost him and found him in Luke 2:49 “And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”
Jesus stated his mission in Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” When He completed His work on the cross, He said in John 19:28-30 “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”
John the baptist knew his purpose, and that was to prepare the way for Jesus Christ. He said, in John 3:28-30 “You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”
John knew his gift which he received from heaven, he knew his purpose and when he accomplished his task, his joy was complete. Jesus Christ is our indescribable Gift. He knew His purpose, to do the Father’s will, to seek and save the lost and when He died on the cross, the work was finished. He rose again on the third day and ascended to heaven. He is our joy and in Him we are complete.
Just before He ascended into heaven, Jesus Christ commissioned His disciples in Matthew 28:18-20 saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
May God help us to use the gifts He has given each one of us to accomplish the purpose for which we are called. When all is said and done, may we here our Lord and Master say, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’ Matthew 25:23
