Dankbetuiging voor de verkregen gaven

Parable of the Talents (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Dierbare God,
ik dank u voor al de mogelijkheden die ik van U gekregen heb.

Ik besef dat U mij ook speciale gaven hebt gegeven, welke specifiek voor mij voorzien zijn.
Ik hoop dat ik ze in waardigheid ten volle zal kunnen ten goede laten komen.

Ik doe mij best om mijn talenten ten volle te gebruiken omdat U mij zo speciaal gemaakt hebt.
Dank U mijn God.

Amen

 

Ability (part 7) Thought about the ability to grow as a member of the Body of Christ

Having received the ability to live we also got some talents, which may be totally different from the talents one of our siblings got.

All having received the ability to think about life also got the ability to come to see Who God is and for what purpose we are on this world. The same when we have used the ability to come to know God we have the ability to choose of Him and to serve Him according to His Will.

That ability to serve God is not based on your past, but on your faithfulness today. A person may have been an adversary of God, a big criminal, a lover of fleshy sins, but when he had come to know Christ Jesus and his God, he might have changed. In his conversion to Christianity he not only received the ability to grow as a member of the Body of Christ, sharing with brethren and sisters the love of Christ and the hope to a coming Kingdom of God.

When having hear the call of God, and having answered it positively, one can come under the blessings of the Most High. Being able to feel those blessings one is eager to follow the commandments of God and the commandments of His sent one, Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God. That son gave his followers tasks, which also still count for us today. Jesus asked his followers to go out into the world and to preach the Gospel, the Good News of the coming Kingdom of God.

There are the tasks given by Christ Jesus and the ones given by his heavenly Father. If you are faithful with the tasks God's son and the heavenly Father entrusts to you, God will enable you to accomplish it.

Don’t distinguish between big and small assignments from God. Paul saw every one as a privilege he did not deserve. Whether God has asked you to pray for someone, to minister to a person in need, to lead a Bible study, or to care for those who are sick, strive to be faithful. You will experience His enabling as you serve Him.

If you are faithful in a little, God will entrust you with more. You will be able to join Paul in praising God for having counted you faithful, putting you into His service (Luke 16:10).

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with a lot. Whoever is dishonest with very little is dishonest with a lot.” (Luke 16:10 GWord)

Even when not experienced, like Timothy was, we can do the work of God and grow in our faith and in the community, like so many before had an opportunity to grow  in their ecclesia.

Paul urged Timothy not to allow his youthful insecurity to blunt his zeal and faithfulness in doing what God had told him. Rather than arguing with those who criticized Timothy, Paul urged him to live as an example of godliness. Paul advised Timothy to live a life that was so spotless in word, conduct, love, spirit, faith, and purity that his life could serve as a model for others in the church to follow. Timothy’s life was to be the evidence that God had called him. God looked beyond Timothy’s youth, timidity, and physical weakness and saw his sincere heart.

We too should take on the right attitude and show others how we are willing to give ourselves to the call we heard from God.

As you seek to follow God’s will, you may identify with Timothy.

Whatever your position at this moment, do know that by using your abilities you make it possible to grow and to develop as a Christian (a follower of Christ).
By allowing God to guide you and to enforce your abilities you shall be able to help not only yourself but also those around you who want to go with you on the same path, laid out in front of you by Jesus, the Way to God.

Just as a tender plant finds a way to grow in a hard and unreceptive environment, so the love of Jesus has the ability to emerge in a life that seems completely unresponsive to the call of the Divine Maker of all things. Giving in to God's call and doing His Will, you shall find that often you shall be able to do more than you would ever thought. This shall be possible when you allow God to demonstrate His call upon you by transforming your life into a model of godliness.

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Preceding articles:

Ability
Ability (part 2)
Ability (part 3) Thoughts around Ability

Ability (part 4) Thought about the ability to have ability

Ability (part 5) Thought about the abilities to be under God's Spirit

Ability (part 6) Thought about the ability of God’s Provision Bringing Glory

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Additional reading

1. Today’s thought “Ability to receive ableness from God” (May 11)
2. Today’s thought “Ability to see that God is not dead” (May 12)
3. Thought for those who think it is not necessary to do any works any more
4. Lost senses or a clear focus on the one at the stake
5. Worthy partakers of the body of Christ

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Related articles

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• Good Friday: Cleric urges Christians to emulate Christ's life of sacrifice
• Doubting Thomas redeemed: Once an obstacle, skepticism is now seen as a stepping stone to faith
• 14 Quotes on Why Easter Matters
• Holy Ease Of Heaven
• Scenes From Holy Week
• To find ways of Godly understanding
• Christians having the right heart to call others to go to God
• High time to show the way to peace
• When not seeing or not finding a biblically sound church

If you think you're too small to be effective

"If you think you're too small to be effective,
you've never been to bed with a mosquito."
- Anita Roddick

The repetition of small efforts
will accomplish more than the occasional use of great talents.
- Charles H. Spurgeon

"The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."
James 5:16

"Now Jesus was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, 'In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me legal protection from my opponent.' For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, 'Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.' And the Lord said, 'Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly.'"
Luke 18:1-8

I ask you God that I shall be able to use all my small talents to the good.

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Als je denkt dat je te klein bent om effectief te zijn

Related articles

• Be Persistent
• "Jesus came to save sinners" by Charles Spurgeon
• "A very present help" by Charles Spurgeon
• The Name to Use (Spurgeon's Faith's Checkbook)

Als je denkt dat je te klein bent om effectief te zijn

"Als je denkt dat je te klein bent om effectief te zijn,
ben je nooit naar bed gegaan met een mug. "
- Anita Roddick

"De herhaling van kleine pogingen
zal meer bereiken dan het eenmalige gebruik van grote talenten."
- Charles H. Spurgeon

"Het effectieve gebed van een rechtvaardige vermag veel."
Jakobus 5:16

"Nu vertelde Jezus hun een gelijkenis om te tonen dat zij te allen tijde moeten bidden en er niet in moesten verslappen of moedeloos moesten worden, zeggende:" In een bepaalde stad was er een rechter die geen ontzag voor God had en geen mens respecteerde. Er was een weduwe in die stad, en ze bleef gedurig tot hem komen, zeggende: 'Geef me wettelijke bescherming tegenover mijn tegenstander. " Voor een tijd was hij niet bereid, maar later zei hij bij zichzelf, "Zelfs al ben ik niet bang voor God, noch voor de mens, maar omdat deze weduwe me stoort, zal ik haar wettelijke bescherming bieden, anders zal ze mij voortdurend komen lastig vallen en vermoeien. ' En de Heer zei: 'Hoor wat de onrechtvaardige rechter nu zei, niet de wil van God zal gerechtigheid brengen voor Zijn uitverkorenen, die dag en nacht roepen om Hem, en zou hij hen lang laten wachten? Ik zeg u dat Hij hen spoedig recht zal verschaffen."
Lukas 18:1-8

Ik vraag u God dat ik mijn kleine talenten ten volle zal kunnen benutten.

Engelse versie / English version > If you think you're too small to be effective

Bij de aanvang van een nieuwe dag

"Dit is het begin van een nieuwe dag. God mij heeft deze dag gegeven om te gebruiken zoals ik wil. Ik kan hem verprutsen - of gebruiken het voor het goede, maar wat ik vandaag doe is belangrijk, want ik ben er een dag van mijn leven voor aan het uitwisselen. Als morgen komt zal deze dag voor altijd verdwenen zijn op zijn plaats iets achterlatend dat ik er voor heb verhandeld. Ik wil dat het winst is en geen verlies, goed en geen kwaad, succes en geen falen, zodat ik de prijs niet zal betreuren die ik er voor betaald heb. "
- Dr Heartsill Wilson

"En hij die vijf talenten ontvangen had kwam en bracht vijf andere talenten zeggende: Heer had gij gij mij geen vijf talenten gegeven: zie, Ik heb naast hen vijf talenten meer opgebracht. Zijn heer zei tot hem: Wel gedaan, gij goede en getrouwe dienaar: gij bent getrouw geweest over een paar dingen, ik zal u heerser maken over veel dingen: kom binnen in de vreugde van uw Heer. "
Mattheüs 25:20-21

God, laat mij van elke dag die nieuw is genieten en er Uw grootsheid in herkennen.
Geef dat ik mijn talenten steeds voor het goede aanwend,
en elke dag voor het goede gebruik.

English version > By the beginning of a new day

By the beginning of a new day

"This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it - or use it for good, but what I do today is important, because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes this day will be gone forever leaving in its place something that I have traded for it. I want it to be gain and not loss, good and not evil, success and not failure, in order that I shall not regret the price that I have paid for it."
- Dr. Heartsill Wilson

"And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents saying, Lord thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."
Matthew 25:20-21

God, let me enjoy of every new day
and let me to recognize your greatness in it.
Give that I always use my talents to the best of my powers,
and use every day for the good.

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Bij de aanvang van een nieuwe dag

Het is makkelijk onze verantwoordelijkheden te ontwijken

"Het is makkelijk onze verantwoordelijkheden te ontwijken,
maar we kunnen de gevolgen van het uit de weg gaan van onze verantwoordelijkheden niet ontwijken. "
- Josiah Stamp

"Wat je ook doet, werk er aan met heel uw hart,
alsof je zou werken voor de Heer, niet voor mannen,
omdat je weet dat je een erfenis krijgt
van de Heer als een beloning.
Het is de Heer Christus die u aan het dienen bent.
Iedereen die verkeerd doet zal worden terugbetaald voor zijn fout,
en er is geen favoritisme. "
Kolossenzen 3:23-25


"Je zal de straf voor je slechte plannen ondergaan
en de gevolgen dragen van uw zonden van afgoderij.
Dan zul je weten dat ik de Soevereine Heer ben. "
Ezechiël 23:49

"Maar als het wordt vastgesteld voor mannen om een keer sterven, maar na deze het arrest
zodat Christus, eenmaal werd aangeboden de zonden van velen te dragen.
Voor degenen die gretig wachten voor hem dat hij een tweede keer verschijnt
afgezien van de zonde, voor het heil. "
Hebreeën 9:27-28

Heer, laat mij steeds mijn verantwoordelijkheid dragen.
God geef dat ik steeds de juiste beslissingen zal nemen
en mijn verantwoordelijkheid durf opnemen.
En geef dat ik een goed voorbeeld mag zijn naar anderen toe.

English version > It is easy to dodge our responsibilities

It is easy to dodge our responsibilities

"It is easy to dodge our responsibilities,
but we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities."
- Josiah Stamp

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,
as working for the Lord, not for men,
since you know that you will receive an inheritance
from the Lord as a reward.
It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong,
and there is no favoritism."
Colossians 3:23-25

"You will suffer the penalty for your bad plans
and bear the consequences of your sins of idolatry.
Then you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD."
Ezekiel 23:49

"BUT as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.
To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time,
apart from sin, for salvation."
Hebrews 9:27-28

Lord, let me bear my responsibility.
God give that I always will take the right decisions
and take up my responsibility.
And give that I may be a good example to others.

Dutch version > Het is makkelijk onze verantwoordelijkheden te ontwijken