Shine Up Those Gifts!

 ¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. -Romans 15:13

My favorite part of a baptism is when the pastor place hands on the baptized person's head and prays: "Pour your Holy Spirit upon ________; the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence."

If you have been baptized, it's all there... wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, fear of the Lord, joy in God's presence.  I know many Christians who shine with these gifts.  But I also know many who hide them well. 

I doubt they hide them intentionally.  They have just allowed these gifts to be dulled through lack of use.  They become dull when we don't study scripture and we get lazy about worship.  But it particularly happens when we cut ourselves off from Christian community six days of every week. 

I have seen the gifts of the Spirit shine the most brightly in those who regularly fellowship with other Christians through Bible studies, small groups, prayer groups.  They are practiced in using these gifts because they use them with one another all the time.

Church families are just that... families.  They are people we work with and eat with and live with... not formally visit once a week.  The Holy Spirit draws us together for the purpose of learning from and practicing with one another.  God never intended for us to be Christian on our own.  We CAN'T be Christians on our own.

Pentecost is the perfect time to shine up those gifts received through baptism.  If you don't have a small group... grab a couple of brothers or sisters and form one!  Happy Pentecost!

Come Holy Spirit! Fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and we shall be created and you shall renew the face of the earth.  O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit instructs the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we shall be truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolations through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Joys: a nice evening out with Richard; sleeping in; the weekend!