Nougat 17

Today’s Holy Nougat is a slow chew …

“A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We have a first responsibility to other believers, then to those who do not yet believe. However, I think it’s easier to believe that our gifts are only for our personal profit, professional promotion, and if there’s time left over, we offer it to church or the wider community. Uh uh – the nougat says that we are gifted for service within the body of Christ.

It therefore means that now we know our gifts; we gotta put them to good use. Yup – whether it is a physical/natural gift or a spiritual one. My thoughts extended to athletics and the premise that those gifts are not easily shared.

And it moved to a theory I have that the Olympic Games began as an effort to ensure that people were using the right gifts and skills for service. Just think – we don’t send a slow poke/coach with a message that is life and death critical; and we wouldn’t send a runner with no skills to use a javelin for hunting. No.

And while we probably won’t ask Olympic medalists to run an errand; even they can contribute to the society and believing community through sponsorship and even by lending their names to particular situations.

As we’re on the matter of our gifts being points for mutual support, and ensuring that we plug our gifts in to God and out to the believing community; I wonder – how do we help those caught in cycles of abuse? Do we quietly gossip, pretending that it’s not our concern or determine it doesn’t affect us? Do we take sides, and conclude that one party was ‘to blame’? Do we try preventative measures by preaching, teaching and exemplifying positive attitudes; while providing support to the survivors, victims and those who are impacted?

How do we journey without judgement? And what is our response to perpetrators – how do we help them back on the road to recovery?In supporting each other; is our gift poised to help those on the margins who can’t re/pay us? How might we mutually support each other and affirm dignity so that the cleaner and the counter are treated equally?

While we’re thinking about it; how do we demonstrate God’s love to those who are members/seekers in our church space or believing community? May our gifts abound, bearing fruit in multiples so the world may taste and see God’s Spirit at work in our lives.

—

May all we seek be found in Christ