WHAT IS THAT IN YOUR HAND?

This theme has been in mind for ages; finally we get to write and read about it today.
The inspiration? A sermon I heard in church.
God’s timing is indeed the best!
🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

Exodus 4:1-5 NIV –

Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you?’”

2 Then the LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?”
“A staff,” he replied.

3 The LORD said, “Throw it on the ground.”
Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it.

4 Then the LORD said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand.

5 “This,” said the LORD, “is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you.”

Just as God asked Moses, today and everyday I believe He’s asking each of us this question.
Our Christian walk for me is captured in these words – “everyday with Jesus”. It’s daily.
We need to daily, moment by moment seek God’s face in every situation and seek His kingdom first.
What is His promise? – all these things shall be added unto you! (Matthew 6:33)

There’s nothing like living a purposeful life. It’s worth more than all the riches of this world.
To know that God is at work in and through you is simply amaaaazing!

I came across this distinction between gifts and talents.

Talents are inherited and gifts are received. Sounds simple enough doesn’t it?
Digging a little deeper, talents are those abilities inherited from one’s parents and nurtured in the context of one’s family. Both the saved and unsaved have talents.
Gifts, come directly from the spirit of God and are possessed by the saved.

This final distinction hits home for me – natural talents are imparted at our natural birth; spiritual gifts are given when we are born again.
Oh wow!!!!

These are some spiritual gifts I came across: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith (extraordinary trust and surrender), gifts of healing, the effecting of miracles, prophecy, the distinguishing of spirits, tongues, the interpretation of tongues, service, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, mercy, apostleship, evangelism and pastoral care.

Guess what?
God has given each of us gifts.
What does He expect from us?

Romans 12:6-8 NIV –

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;

7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;

8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

So again the question is posed – “What is that in your hand?”
God bless you!

(A podcast on this would be interesting; let’s see what God will do. 🤔😃🙏🏾)