The Daily Office for July 23, 2012
Scriptures
Psalm 44
Joshua 7:1-13
Romans 13:8-14
Matthew 26:36-46
Reading (Matthew 26:36-46)
Reflection
Someone you love is having a birthday. You know this person very well, and you thought long and hard about what gift to give. You shopped carefully, being sure to get just the right color, size and style. It’s perfect. You can’t wait to give your present. You can’t wait to see your friend enjoy it and use it.
At the party, your eyes dance with joy as your friend rips the paper open. “Oh! Isn’t that nice”, your friend says and then puts the gift aside. Last time you checked, it was still stuck in your friend’s closet. Never used. Never enjoyed. How do you feel? Well, then consider God’s feelings. God gives His children gifts in order to build up His church. When everyone exercises their gifts – of service, administration, giving, teaching and so on – then a church operates smoothly, meets needs regularly and grows continually.
- To use your gift effectively, you have to:
- Realize that all gifts and talents come from God.
- Recognize that people have been given different gifts.
- Know what gift or gifts you’ve been given.
- Commit yourself to use your gifts to serve God, not to promote yourself.
- Determine to use your gift wholeheartedly, whenever you can.
Collect for the Day
Generous God, you give us gifts and make them grow: though our faith is small as mustard seed, make it grow to your glory and the flourishing of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.