Sharnita Gates leads a devotional on using your talents for Christ. She references Ezekiel, Acts, and John, discusses Michael Todd's book Damaged But Not Destroyed, and urges listeners to identify their God-given skills, help those in need, and let go of shame.
Blessings this morning. I am eager to get started with the devotion, the reflection, and the strategy and approach for today. But first, I want to ask a question. Have anyone ever read Ezekiel? And I'm only asking because I was reading Ezekiel This morning, and it really had me thinking, especially after the release of Michael Todd's book, Damaged But Not Destroyed: From Triumph to Triumph— I mean, From Trauma to Triumph. And it really hit home reading Ezekiel 16. So I would say for, you know, anyone who's interested in reading Ezekiel, reading Ezekiel in its entirety. But for a little bit of clarity, Ezekiel 16. So let's go ahead and get started on our daily devotion and So today I kind of want to reflect on the word, use what you have for Christ. Tabitha was always doing good and helping the poor. And that's Acts 9:36. Tabitha was always doing good and helping the poor. Use what you have for Christ. So for today's, our devotion is using what we have for Christ. And our example for the devotion is, have you ever heard of the Sewing Hall of Fame? Established in 2001, it recognizes people that have made a lasting impression on the home sewing industry with unique and innovative contributions. Through sewing education and product development. It includes individuals like Martha Pullen, inducted in the hall in 2005, who is prescribed as a Proverbs 31 woman who never failed to publicly acknowledge the source of her strength, inspiration, and blessing. The Sewing Hall of Fame is a 21st century invention But had it been around during the first century in Israel, a woman named Tabitha might have been a lock for induction. Tabitha was a believer in Jesus and a seamstress who spent time sewing for poor widows in her community. And again, we can read that in Acts 9, verse 36 and 39. After she became ill and died, disciples sent for Peter to see if God will work a miracle through him. When he arrived, weeping widows showed him robes and other clothing that Tabitha had made for them. These clothes was evidence of her always doing good for the poor in her city. By God's power, Tabitha was restored to life. God calls and equips us to use our skills to meet needs that are present in our community and world. Let's release our skills into the service of Jesus and see how he will use our acts of love to stitch hearts and lives together. We can find that in Ephesians 4:16. So as we devote ourselves to use what we have for Christ, let's devote our time to gaining clarity in what talents and abilities Have God given you? God has given us, you know, talents and abilities, which are different from skills. How can you use them to help people in need? So as we devote ourselves to, you know, dive deeper into those questions, pray: Dear Jesus, please help me to respond with love and compassion. To the needs of others as I devote myself to use what you have for Christ. And remembering Tabitha, who was always doing good and helping the poor. So our reflection today, as we devote ourselves to use what God have for Christ, the devotion for today And I mean, the reflection: I am saved and will always be saved. John 10:28: I gave them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. Like many, I have experienced some really dark moments in life. However, I always just have just enough hope in me to remember that I'm saved. I'm saved. I'm saved. And at the end of this journey, that's all that really matters, is that I'm saved and I will always be saved. So remembering that John 10:28, I give them eternal life And they shall never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hands. So reflecting on that, I am saved, I am saved, I am saved, and I will always be saved. And as we reflect on that and also use what we have for Christ and devoting our lives back to, you know, back to God and into Christ and the Holy Spirit, Our strategy and approach is unhindered. In Ephesians 3:12, because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confident into God's presence. Our salvation awards us the great privilege of being able to approach God unhindered, with sin no longer dividing us from the holy presence. We are free to bare our souls to God as his beloved sons and daughters. As bold and confident lovers of God, there's nothing we cannot share with him, and he with us. Fear and shame have no place in this kind of excellent love. The strategy and approach. What shame do you need God to take away from you today? Ezekiel 16. Read Ezekiel. God is all that. Ezekiel 16. That's the shame that I need God to take away from me today. Thank you guys for joining the strategy approach and reflection. And devotion, I recommend and highly recommend that you read Ezekiel 17, but also do the reflections and the devotions, the questions. As you know, what talents and abilities have God given you, and how can you use them to help people in need?
