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Has God ever called you to temporarily set aside one of your gifts?

We each have things we’re good at—talents, interests, or skills that we value and consider integral to our lives. As Christians, we understand these talents to be gifts from God. However, there is a danger in wrapping too much of our identity around a particular talent or skill. When we and others focus too much on an individual talent, we risk valuing the gift over the person employing it.

In this devotional, Blaine Smith of Nehemiah Notes addresses the challenge of valuing a gift without valuing it too highly, at the expense of other things. Sometimes, an appropriate response is to lay aside a gifts for a time:

As a Christian, you face a dilemma: While using your gift will help others, it will also draw attention to yourself. Will this attention be spiritually unhealthy for you? Will it cause you to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think? And will it cause others to honor you above Christ? Is it best just to refrain from using your gift altogether–to avoid any ego problems, and so that Christ will be glorified in your weakness and not in your strength?

These are not always easy questions. It’s clear that God sometimes does call a Christian to avoid using a gift for a time. Yet I believe it’s more typically because one is insecure than conceited. Someone who thinks poorly of him- or herself in general may be basing self-worth too strongly on a particular talent. He may benefit from putting his gift aside for a while, particularly if he is in a fellowship where people genuinely care about him. Finding that others love her and appreciate her, whether or not she is using her gift, will be a big boost to her morale and confidence in Christ.

The tendency to stake one’s identity too strongly on a gift can be especially strong for a new believer who has brought either poor self-esteem or an inflated self-image into the Christian life. Thus, Paul declares, “Never be in a hurry to ordain a man” (I Tim 5:22)–cautioning against putting a new Christian in a leadership position who hasn’t developed the maturity in Christ to handle the honor involved.

The rest of the essay describes how to discern when it’s appropriate to give up our gifts. Read the full devotional at Nehemiah Notes.

Have you ever felt that one of your gifts was drawing an unhealthy amount of attention, either from yourself or from others? Has God ever called you to give up a gifts for a time?

Translators often speak of the importance of having access to the Bible in your “heart language.” The experience of reading or hearing Jesus’ words can be profoundly transformational, but it’s a privilege we often take for granted. Over the last century, the Bible has been translated into a huge number of languages, but work remains to be done in at least one important area. Wycliffe has partnered with DOOR to focus on a group of languages that lack any Bible: the hundreds of sign languages throughout the world.

I had ignorantly assumed that the deaf would be able to read, but according to Bruce Smith of Wycliffe Associates, there is a higher illiteracy rate among the deaf than among the hearing. Additionally, print and sign language aren’t interchangeable; there are signs that don’t have corresponding spoken words, and words that don’t have signs.

Right now, the only sign language into which the Bible has been even partly translated (on video) is American Sign Language, and even that language only has the New Testament. Over 200 other sign languages lack any translation of any part of the Bible.

Here’s an excerpt from a Mission Network News article about sign language translation efforts:

Wycliffe Associates knows they need to start somewhere to maintain their commitment to see Scripture in every language around the globe.

Smith said it’s a common misconception that since the deaf can see, they can read and therefore they only need a written translation of the Bible. However, the rate of illiteracy in the deaf community is even higher than among the hearing: “Printed English worlds that we would read hear in America have no relationship whatsoever to the sign that American Sign Languages use. They are separate languages. So we need to get out of the mode that what they’re doing is just representing the words that we read on a page,” Smith said.

That’s why Wycliffe Associates is creating video translations for various sign languages around the world. To get started, they’re working with a powerful ally: “The great news is that we’re working with a partner that’s very experienced in this area. They’re called Deaf Opportunity OutReach International,” Smith said. [...]

Since there is little previous work is this field, Smith anticipates this work to take at least a decade. To expedite the process, Wycliffe Associates needs volunteers with job, technical and life skills to aid in many of the tasks that come with translation. The more volunteers they have, the more the translators can focus on simply translating each language.

Read the rest of the article at mmnonline.org.

Do you know anyone who is deaf or hard of hearing? How does the lack of a complete sign language Bible affect them?

Psalm 24 describes someone “ascend[ing] the hill of the Lord” to “stand in his holy place.” What is that “hill,” and who is worthy to stand on it? This Words of Hope devotional by Jonathan Brownson explains the meaning behind this curious phrase:

[This verse] suggests that “ascending the hill of the Lord” is quite different from playing “King of the Hill.” When Jesus ascends, the psalmist cries for the gates to open to receive the “King of Glory” (v. 7). The Lord Jesus is “King of the Hill” forever. He alone is perfectly clean and pure (v. 4). He is the Lord of hosts.

And as we approach the throne, we do not find Jesus ready to repel our advances. Rather, he invites us to join him. He promises that, “I will be [their] God, and [they] will be my [people]” (Rev. 21:7). His blood makes us clean (1 John 1:7). We can follow the ways of the world and struggle to exalt ourselves or we can “humble [ourselves] before the Lord, and he will exalt [us]” (James 4:10).

Read the full devotional at Words of Hope.

Once again, Jesus goes before us to open the way for us to follow. Jesus beckons from the “hill of the Lord,” inviting us to freely approach God’s throne. Have you followed him there?

On Good Friday, my church held a joint worship service with several other local churches. Combining services seemed more appropriate than leaving each individual church to host a separate—and sparsely attended—service.

I do think that an important aspect of being part of a church is regular weekly attendance, but sometimes we have to miss a service or two (or more) throughout the year. Maybe there’s no service that day, or maybe you’re just on vacation; whatever the reason, we all find ourselves away from our home church for some reason throughout the year.

Do you attend multiple churches throughout the year? Why? How do you choose those churches that you visit?

Share your thoughts!

For such a widely-read book, the Bible can be a challenge to read and understand. To be sure, it takes no special training to appreciate the Bible and grasp its Gospel message… but there is a reason that even the most enthusiastic Bible reading plan often hits a wall just a few books into the Old Testament. Many sections of the Bible use vocabulary words and writing styles that aren’t familiar to modern readers.

Fortunately, there’s a lot of Bible-reading help at hand. In his Day by Day devotional, Chuck Swindoll lists out some readily-available resources that will help you get the most out of your Bible reading. Here’s just a few from his list:

Listen, you don’t have to be a theological brain to dig into God’s riches… but you do need some mining equipment. These tools are basic to intelligent, meaningful Bible study. They will enable you to find most of the answers you need, and they are as easy to use as your TV guide. There are at least four you should have on hand.

A Bible concordance. It contains an alphabetical index of all the terms found in the Bible, and it comes in handy when you want to put your finger on a particular verse but can only remember a few words in it. It’s also invaluable if you want a complete list of all the verses using the same word. [...]

A Bible dictionary. It is more than a list of words and definitions. It’s like a one-volume encyclopedia, containing vital information on people, places, doctrines, customs, and cultural matters. I recommend either Unger’s Bible Dictionary (well illustrated, scholarly but readable) or the New Bible Dictionary (contains longer articles on technical subjects).

Read the rest of the devotional for his complete list. He helpfully lists out specific titles for each category to help you get started.

Do you keep any of these resources on hand while you read the Bible? What others would you recommend?

“What is your only comfort in life and in death? That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ….” It’s been twenty years since my Sunday school teachers required me to memorize Heidelberg Catechism Question and Answer #1, but it still rolls off my tongue easily. The Reformed church in which I grew up incorporated the Heidelberg Catechism into both worship services and youth education.

As a teenager, I certainly did not enjoy committing huge swaths of a stuffy-sounding theological primer to memory. I envied friends at other churches whose much “cooler” Sunday school curricula involved skits and music. But those pieces of memorized catechism—particularly the wonderfully comforting Q&A #1 above—have been an encouragement to me ever since.

All this came to mind while reading this interview with Kevin DeYoung about the value of the Heidelberg Catechism at the Evangel blog. If you’re not familiar with the concept of a catechism, or if you are skeptical that a long theological treatise penned by 16th-century Protestants could possibly be relevant to your Christian life, give the short interview a read. Among other things, DeYoung describes the ways that the catechism is woven into the life of his church:

How do you use it at your church? And what are some other suggestions regarding how to use a catechism?

Kevin DeYoung: We use the Heidelberg Catechism in our worship. Sometimes we read it responsively. Other times I’ll work it into my communion liturgy. I’ll quote it in my sermons from time to time. I’ve seen the Catechism used effectively as Sunday school material. It’s best to have littler kids memorize parts of it and have older kids explore the nuances of the theology. We also have a section on the Catechism in our membership class and leadership training. And of course, my book on Heidelberg started out a weekly devotionals for my congregation.

DeYoung is talking specifically about the Heidelberg Catechism, but it is not the only catechism written to methodically introduce Christians (and particularly children) to the fundamental elements of Christianity. Depending on your denomination and theological leanings, there may be one or more catechisms written specifically to convey the Christian truths you hold dear.

What about you and your church? Does your church use a catechism as a teaching tool in sermons, Sunday school, or another part of church life?

When’s the last time you celebrated your salvation?

Many of us who grew up in the church sort of “slid” into our relationship with Christ. We certainly appreciate what salvation means, but it’s hard to compare our life before accepting Christ and our life after, because they are superficially very similar.

This devotional from Today suggests that we should set aside a day to joyfully give thanks to God for the salvation we’ve received:

Since God has reordered our lives through his salvation, snatching us from Satan and writing his law on our hearts, we should celebrate as well. Isn’t it time you celebrated your salvation? Christians born in the church who never know anything different sometimes make their Christian life so ordinary. No party, no fun, no joy. Live joyfully in Jesus!

Centuries have passed. The Jews still celebrate the feast of Purim. Maybe you and I should have a custom that each year we celebrate our rebirth in Christ. Perhaps we should celebrate the day we were baptized, or the day we declared our faith in Jesus. What milestone in your life could you celebrate? Now is a great time to begin such a tradition of thanks to God.

Read the rest at thisistoday.net.

What do you think about the idea of setting aside a day a year to remember a milestone in your faith journey? What could you do to make it special?

Several years ago I visited a local megachurch that was hosting a sermon series on Love. They opened their worship set by showing a music video for “All You Need is Love” by the Beatles. This was the first time I’d ever seen a church bring in something so decidedly “secular” into a worship service.

The church I attend now sings a few songs that are amalgamations of popular songs and worship songs. For example, this past week we interspersed the chorus from Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry” (“Everything’s gonna be alright” x8) into one of the worship songs. It’s interesting how those simple lines take on an entirely different meaning when put in the context of a Christian worship service.

Does your church ever use “secular” songs during worship?

Share your thoughts!

Nothing stings like criticism from the mouth of a friend. We’ve all experienced the pain of being criticized or attacked by somebody we trusted. Drawing on Psalm 41:9, in which the psalmist is betrayed by a close friend, this Daily Encounter devotional considers a Christian response to such a situation:

Criticism can be very painful especially when it comes from those who are closest to us. In the long run, however, it does much more harm to the one criticizing than it does to the one being criticized. Furthermore, criticism only destroys us if we allow it to.

If we are being criticized and the criticism is valid, we need to be big enough to accept the criticism and make necessary changes to correct where we have been wrong.

On the other hand, if the criticism is unjust, we need to realize (though easier said than done) that the more secure we become within ourselves, the less others’ criticism will bother us. In such cases I like what another has said, “What you think of me is none of my business.”

Read the full devotional at ACTS International.

The challenge, then, is to honestly and prayerfully evaluate whether the criticism we’ve received is a legitimate complaint or an unfair attack. Think about a time that you were criticized by a friend. Was it the impetus to make an important change in your life? What helps you distinguish helpful criticism from an unjustified attack?

Earlier this week, we highlighted a devotional about effective prayer. But what about prayers that God doesn’t seem to answer at all? Are those “ineffective” prayers? When we call out to God for help or when an injustice happens, why doesn’t He always appear to set things right? Why doesn’t He do something?

That’s the question asked in this devotional at Lifetime Guarantee Ministries. Anabel Gillham wonders about God’s apparent silence:

Why does He wait and wait and wait when we so desperately are begging Him to “do something?” Why? Because God is omniscient. He knows everything. He has His plans all drawn up and we cannot grasp His ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:9 NAS). We didn’t know what God had in mind that dark day on Calvary’s hill. He was fulfilling the plan that had been set in motion before the foundation of the earth. He was redeeming mankind. He was making a way for us to regain our fellowship with Him. He was opening Heaven’s doors for His children. Reconciled at last!

And we can say, “I see that was necessary for His plan to be carried out! But why war, why tragedies, why suffering?” Because He is fulfilling the plan that was set in motion for you and me before the foundation of the world. God has a plan for my life as surely as He had a plan for Jesus.

Read the full devotional at Lifetime Guarantee Ministries.

Have you ever wondered why God remained silent and inactive in spite of your prayers? How do you respond when God’s response to prayer or needs in your life isn’t what you hoped for?