To Old To Be About Gods Kingdom?

I remember at one point being on the church’s nominating committee.
I remember hearing reports of the older people in our church, my age now, refuse the invitation to be a servant in the church.

I remember one particular comment, “I’ve paid my dues.” I thought it was sad then and think it is sad now. And that’s not a judgmental statement at all. It’s sad to think people, no matter what their age, think they are no longer useful or needed in Gods kingdom. And now I am on the other side and feel what this generation was saying.

Fast forward several years, its a very social and electronic world now.
It’s a young persons world. The videos, the influencers, and the celebrities. Just turn on the television, computer or even the phone, and we’re bombarded with the young generation telling us older generation that everything we represent has been a lie or is wrong or, you’ve guessed it, useless to society.

No I’m not getting political here. And I’m not shifting the blame to anybody else.

I’m actually trying to encourage myself and others my age and older that we have value and a wealth of experience still to be shared.

The young ones of today will soon be our age. It happens quickly.

A few years ago, I remember seeing a lady artist, about 80 years old with her own YouTube painting lesson show. She retired from her regular line of work, but couldn’t stop doing what she loved, and as of the time I’m writing this blog, she’s still doing it! That inspires me so much.

There have been many mentors in my life, of all ages. And many don’t even know that they’ve made a difference. Just as this 80 year old is in the spotlight doing what she loves, using her gifts, there are many others doing the same in our churches and Gods kingdom. And every one of them inspire and fill me with the energy to know that God is not done with me yet!

Though it’s good to have people give us words of affirmation and words of caution and advice and criticism, sometimes all of those things can be more debilitating or toxic than helpful.
We should always encourage others and lovingly caution others, but our world not only does both too much, we have become dependent on it, or even addicted to it.

When we as a person can not function healthy without a word from an outside source, maybe we need to question our focus. I know I personally need to get out of my own head and focus on what God is saying to me.

I’ve been studying the Spiritual gifts. I want to better understand them so I can share with you readers with authority and encouragement. I have several devotions on my Bible app about the Spiritual Gifts and I’ve been reading all of them randomly. God is speaking to me about these gifts in a different way than ever before. When I was younger both in physical and spiritual age, I was into finding out what my Spiritual gift was. I would take tests and read Bible studies and devotions, listen to specific speakers on the subject, to name a few. And there’s nothing at all wrong with that. In fact it’s needed and that’s exactly what I thought God was going to do through this blog theme.
But, as I’ve learned over the years, expect the unexpected.

When I’m sensitive to His voice and really listen to Him, He guides me on the perfect path, and most of the time it’s different from what I’m thinking or expecting.

Whether we know our Spiritual gift or not, do we use what we’ve been given with Gods power and Honor? Or do we wish for something we don’t have, something we see and covet in others?

As I’ve been reading, it seems to me that we Christians are all called to be about Gods business. That business seems to be a combination of all the Spiritual Gifts.
We each have a super power, Spiritual Gifts to be used together as a family for unity, to give God the gift giver, the Honor and Glory!

Please remember you don’t have to be perfect, none of us are. If we wait for perfection we will never be about Gods plan and that’s exactly where satan wants us to be.

Homework assignment…using your own tool, (contact your local church) find your Spiritual Gift(s) and post here in a comment.

Next blog we’ll explore the how…

1 Corinthians 12:8-11 to one is given a message of wisdom

through the Spirit,

to another, a message of knowledge

by the same Spirit,

to another, faith by the same Spirit,

to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit,

to | Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) | Download The Bible App Now

Romans 12:6-8 According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts:

If prophecy,

use it according to the standard of one’s faith;