9/16/2021 0 Comments Really Love Others!Sincere love requires concentration and effort, it means helping others become better people. It should love others not expecting or hoping for anything in return, just in the spirit of honoring and lifting others up. We should strive to honor others simply because they have been created in God's image.
Questions for further thought: 1. What is one thing you could do today to really honor and love someone? 2. Have you done things for others in the past honestly hoping for something in return? Challenge: Question 2 is a tough one to answer, I think we all can probably think of a time when we have helped someone else hoping it would benefit ourselves. Be honest with yourself and pray to God that you will do better going forward, that is what we are all striving for after all!
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9/15/2021 0 Comments Our ResponsibilitySo now we know God has given us all spiritual gifts to be used to benefit the church, those around us and bless others. With blessings, which spiritual gifts certainly are, comes great responsibility as well. Once we know what our God given gifts are we have the responsibility and expectation by Him to use them to the best of our ability and not allow them to go to waste.
Questions for further thought: 1. What challenges or fears are holding you back from fully using your spiritual gifts? 2. What step do you need to take today to begin to overcome those? Challenge: We are all discovering and figuring out our individual gifts and talents. You may stumble at first when trying them out, but don't get discouraged or give up; the blessings are worth the effort! 9/14/2021 0 Comments One BodyWe have all been gifted by God in different ways, the trick is to find what your role is and to be the best at it you can be. Some of us are talented musically, some in finances, some in preaching or teaching, some in hands on hammer and nail work. All these things and more are necessary and so valuable in the body of Christ if everyone plays their role.
Questions for further thought: 1. What talents or passions has God given you? 2. What are you presently doing to develop or put those things to use for Him? Challenge: We can always use whatever gifts God has given you here at Hillcrest. If you feel lead to help out please don't hesitate to reach out to a pastor, elder, or staff member and we will be happy to get you connected. 9/13/2021 0 Comments Let's Be HonestHealthy self-esteem is important because many of us think too little of ourselves, and some have too high of a view of ourselves. There needs to be an accurate self-assessment of where we are and what we need to work on or develop. Apart from Him we aren't capable of very much by eternal standards.
Questions for further thought: 1. Do you have an accurate assessment of where you are with God? 2. How can you improve on where you are at? Challenge: Don't evaluate yourself by worldly standards or you may think too much about your worth in the eyes of others and miss your true worth in God's eyes. 9/10/2021 0 Comments Bearing FruitGifts given by the Spirit should be directed by the Spirit. Jesus followers who are leaders, teachers, helpers, givers, etc., must all discover how to carry out their missions with the fruit of the Spirit. Jonah had the gift of prophecy, for example, but he came up short in the love, joy, and peace department!
Questions for further thought: 1. Are spiritual gifts the same as the fruit of the Spirit? Could they be? 2. Are there any spiritual gifts where it might be hard to apply one of the fruits? Challenge: Pick one of the fruits of the Spirit this week and pursue it with passion, maybe especially one that you don’t think you’re a “natural” at. Pray over it, read about it, think on how it could manifest itself in your spiritual gift. 9/9/2021 0 Comments BelongingAnyone who asks for the Spirit to reveal his or her gift will be answered. Not only is God eager for us to be Spirit-filled, He also wants us to be part of a family using gifts together as one body for the good of the church and the world.
Questions for further thought: 1. Do you know what your spiritual gift is? If you could pick a gift, what would it be? 2. Have you ever asked God for insight into your spiritual gift? Challenge: Think about your best friend or someone you admire: What is he (or she) good at? You would want him to know. Jesus wants us to know our spiritual gifts, too. Try to think of Jesus sitting down with you and helping you figure out yours. 9/8/2021 0 Comments Being JealousThe flip side of pride in your gifts could be jealousy of others’ gifts. It might seem unfair that God grants insight to one person, encouragement to another, or so much musical talent to the worship team. But God assures us that all of us are necessary and that there should be no division among us.
Questions for further thought: 1. Are you ever jealous of the role someone else plays in the church? 2. Do you ever feel like your own gift is insignificant? Challenge: Ask God for clarity about why your spiritual gift is important and for joy in fulfilling that gift at church. Or perhaps there are more or different ways for you to employ that gift. 9/7/2021 0 Comments Being ProudAs humans, we are tempted to be proud about anything we have – even if it is a free gift given to us by the Spirit! While Paul does imply there are different levels of gifts (with apostles at the top, of course), he cautions us not to think of ourselves “more highly than you ought” and reminds us of “the most excellent way.”
Questions for further thought: 1. In what ways do you personally have to guard against the sin of pride? 2. What are some ways that pride in gifts can harm the image of Christians (think Joel Osteen here)? Challenge: One way to ward off pride is to thank God for your spiritual gifts and personal traits and acknowledge that they come from the Lord of all creation. Take time in your prayers today to be grateful. 9/6/2021 0 Comments Knowing the GiftsPaul’s list of spiritual gifts are centered on the church. It seems natural that any gifts from the Spirit – for example, service – might be suited to character traits we already possess and thus also apply to our lives away from church. But the context of these verses is of the church as a body.
Questions for further thought: 1. Is Paul’s list of spiritual gifts here comprehensive? What other gifts might there be? 2. How much do you exercise your spiritual gift specifically at church? Challenge: In this series, we will learn more about how to discover our spiritual gifts. Start praying now to know more about your gifts, and ask for direction about how your gift fits into the body of believers. This passage encourages diligence and hard work so that God can bless us for our hard work, which in turn we use to bless others around us and earn favor or righteousness in God’s eyes. Blessings from hard work must not lead to selfishness and hoarding on our part; this will not find favor in God’s eyes.
Questions for further thought: 1. How has God blessed you lately for hard work? 2. What in turn did you do to bless others as a result of that blessing? Challenge: Ask God to show you a need of someone else and then using the blessings He has provided to you, bless that person by meeting their need. |
AuthorThis devotional is written every week by Hillcrest members. Archives
April 2024
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