Prepared

August 3

Nehemiah 4-5

Psalm 88:6-12

Proverbs 19:19-20

I Corinthians 12

Prepared

“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. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good….All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” I Corinthians 12:4-7,11

There is a book by Max Lucado that I highly recommend to you, “Cure for the Common Life.” I like his simple way of explaining biblical truths that I can understand and relate to. He describes spiritual gifts this way, “You were born prepackaged. God looked at your entire life, determined your assignment and gave you the tools to do the job.” When we go on a trip, we pack our bags based on what we are going to need on the trip. If we are going to the beach, we pack a bathing suit and sunscreen. If we are going to a wedding, we pack a dress or a suit. If we are going to the mountains, we pack hiking boots and a jacket. We want to be prepared. When God made us, he did the same thing. Before we were formed in our mother’s womb, He knew every day that we would ever face. He knew the day we would be born, the family we would have, the heartaches we would experience, the jobs we would have and the ministry that He had planned for us to do. He knew the people that He planned to bring into our lives to impact us and for us to have an impact on. He knew all our good days and our really bad days, and He prepared for those. He planned the course of our lives so that we would either come equipped with the tools we needed to face them, or he would allow events to happen so that before we needed them, we would develop them. He is sovereign. We never have to worry that we can’t handle anything or that we won’t be prepared to deal with whatever this life throws at us.

Not only are we prepared for the things that we are going to face, but we are also prepared to help others along the way. The unique abilities and gifts God gives us allow us to live lives that are purposeful and meaningful. We were not formed on an assembly line. Each of us was created by an artisan. David explains it this way in Psalm 139:15-16, “My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.” My friend Gloria is an artist. She makes beautiful pieces of art out of yarn, pottery, paper, fabric, or any other medium she decides to work with at the time. She will tell you that no two pieces of art is ever the same. She may use the same materials, but each one turns out just a little different. Each one is designed with purpose and meaning. Gloria cannot possibly know who will be touched by her artwork, or how it will ultimately be used. Thankfully, our Creator saw everything before He made us and designed us with the unique specifications that our lives required. Our task is to unpack our bags so that we understand where we fit into His plan and the purpose He has for our lives.