January 6
Scripture: 1 Cor 13:4
Source author: Joseph Compaine
January 16
Receiving to Give In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. —Romans 12:6
Harley was one of those guys who never appeared to have a lot going for him. Factory job. Minimum wage. Widower. Messed-up adult kids. I met him one day in a Toastmasters group at our church. He gave a speech and then sat down. At the break, I walked over to him. “You could give that speech in a lot of places,” I told Harley. “I’m trying,” he said. “But it’s slow going. There are other things I do better.” “Like what?” “Well, after my wife died, I talked to the pastor and said I wanted to start a grief recovery group here. I did it, and now we have fifty people coming. It really charges me up.” Afterward I thought about this. Harley had a gift from God. His gift was the ability to give of himself and to love others. And God used him.
Love compels us to use the gifts God has given us to serve Him and others.
— Joseph Compaine —