Utilize Your Talents/Gifts – The Example of Mary

Devotion for Saturday January 13, 2018

Topic: Utilize Your Talents/Gifts – The Example of Mary

Text: Matthew 26:6 – 13

Matthew and Mark didn’t mention the name of this woman that anointed Jesus. It was John that mentioned her name as Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus of Bethany (John 11:1 – 2). She had a precious oil of great value at home and decided to anoint Jesus with it before His crucifixion and death. Many people who witnessed it including his disciples were indignant about it. They queried the rationale behind such a ‘waste.’ Even if the oil was sold and money given to the poor, what would have the buyer used the oil for? However, Jesus Christ was quick to rebuke them saying that what Mary did was good for the reasons he advanced in Matthew 26:10 – 12. He also quickly added that Mary’s act will become a memorial of her and her name will be mentioned wherever the gospel would be preached. 

Beloved in Christ, what would have made Mary to become a household name if not for utilizing her gift to serve God? Your story and destiny can still change if you can use what you have to serve God this year. Yours may be your time, strength/power, money, wealth or any other thing with which God has blessed you. As you use any of your gifts or talents in the service of God and humanity, you will certainly be making a memorial for yourself. It will change your destiny and bring you before men. Sing A&M 357; Abu 193

Food for Thought: Using our gifts/talents for the service of God and humanity is the best way to appreciate the giver of the gifts/talents.

Memory verse: Matthew 26:7

Prayer: Lord God, help me to appreciate you, the source of my gifts through serving you and humanity in Jesus name. Amen.

Utilize Your Talents/Gifts – The Example of Peter

Devotion for Friday January 12, 2018

Topic: Utilize Your Talents/Gifts – The Example of Peter

Text: Luke 5:1 – 11

Peter and his colleagues had toiled all night without anything to show for their efforts. Apparently, they were set to go home and rest because they were already washing their nets when Jesus appeared and requested to use their boat. Some people would have seen the request as adding to their frustration because it means they would stay longer. But Peter gave out his boat. He didn’t take time to consider the request. He acted promptly. 

Beloved, God is requesting to use that your property for the sake of the gospel. Will you oblige him? After using Peter’s boat, Jesus commanded them to go for a catch. Though Peter, as a professional fisherman tried to bring reason into the command, acted as commanded. The result was amazing and outstanding. It contradicted the laws and principles of fishing. For allowing Jesus use what he has, brought Peter into one on one with Jesus Christ the Saviour of mankind. That turned the story of Peter. 

Dear child of God, do you know that making what you have available for the Master’s use can change your life and destiny? Had Peter and his colleagues gone ahead to sell the fish, they would have made fortune out of the catch but they saw a far greater blessing in following Jesus Christ and thus they abandoned all and followed Him. That singular act and decision of Peter changed his life, story and also immortalized his name. Yours can be so if you will give your talent/gift for the Master’s use. Sing SS&S 798; Abu 239

Food for Thought: All we can hold in our cold dead hands is what we have given away. -Sanskrit Proverb

Memory verse: Luke 5:3

Prayer: Lord, as I give in charity and for the gospel what you have used in blessing me, may your blessings come upon me the more in Jesus name. Amen.

Utilize Your Talents/Gifts – The Example of David

Devotion for Thursday January 11, 2018

Topic: Utilize Your Talents/Gifts – The Example of David

Text: 1 Samuel 16:14 – 23

In our clime, a musician was seen as never do well until recently. Most musicians of 1980s back ended up poorly. Then, nobody wants his child to be a musician but it was music that distinguished David and brought him to limelight in Bible days. No talent from God is too small or unworthy to be despised. I once read about a Yoruba woman without a degree that lectures in Harvard on fine art. The gift of that woman made way for her. This was the case of David to as we have in our bible reading for the day. He was skilled in playing musical instrument and when the spirit of God departed from Saul, one of his aides suggested David as one who was skilled in playing music that can calm his melancholy. It was in that service, he rose to prominence in the land of Israel that Saul became envy of him and sought for ways to kill him. The story of David and Saul teaches us that no amount of envy against you and your talent/gifts can stop what God has ordained to be in your life. Are you talented and people are against you in your office, neighbourhood, and school or church that people are now plotting your downfall or how to eliminate you? Their plan cannot work. If Saul didn’t succeed in killing David, they will not succeed in your case. Keep using your gifts and touching lives. God will perfect his words in your life.  Sing A&M 361; Abu 128

Food for Thought: No talent/gift is inconsequential. Therefore use your talent to make name for yourself.

Memory verse: 1 Samuel 16:18

Prayer: Almighty God, grant that I will not undermine the gift in me.

Utilize Your Talent/Gifts – The Example of Joseph

Devotion for Wednesday January 10, 2018

Topic: Utilize Your Talent/Gifts – The Example of Joseph

Text: Genesis 40:5 – 23

Joseph’s gift/talent was to dream and interpret the dreams. He was not stingy with that gift. He dreamt about his brothers bowing to him as a king and another time his parents bowing to him. His dreams elicited hatred from his brothers who sold him into slavery. But being a slave didn’t stop him from using his talents even while in prison, he interpreted the dream of Pharaoh’s servant. Some people would have ignored those servants but not Joseph. He showed concern towards their sadness and inability to understand their dreams. When they told him about their dreams, he gave the right interpretation. His appeal that chief butler should remember him was ignored but he continued his life until another opportunity came when Pharaoh dreamt and there was no interpreter. Then he was remembered. His gift sorted him out and he came out from prison to become a Prime Minister in a foreign land. The way you use your gift matters to God and humanity. God who gave you that gift expects you to use it to serve Him and humanity, and until you begin to use them it cannot manifest the more and bring you before men. If Joseph had shown indifference to the fellow prisoners, when the need arose for an interpreter, he wouldn’t have been remembered. Therefore put your gift into use and it will sort you out. Sing SS&S 1138, Abu 240

Food for Thought: Talent without tact is only half talent – Horace Greeley.

Memory verse: Genesis 41:13

Prayer: God, help me to utilize the gift you gave me just as Joseph did and let it bring me before great men in Jesus name. Amen.

Utilize Your Gifts

Devotion for Tuesday January 9, 2018

Topic: Utilize Your Gifts

Text: Proverbs 18:16

Gifts are something bestowed on us. If we can afford such thing, we can’t call it a gift. The author of Proverbs says the gift of a man and not the wealth. This gift can be talent, wisdom, knowledge, craft, art, etc. The gift makes way for the owner and brings him or her before great men. From this verse of the scripture, there are three things we should note of. 1) Every man has a gift. This truth is illustrated in the parable Jesus gave about talents in Matthew 25:14 – 30. There was no servant without a talent. Though some of the servants had more talents than other servants, none was left without one. 2) Talents are meant to be utilized. In that same parable, the king condemned the servant that didn’t utilize the talent he received. For every talent God has given to us, we must utilize them or else on the day of reckoning, we will be condemned for not using them. 3) When we use them, it brings us before kings. A look at that parable in Matthew 25:14 – 30 shows us the reward of using our talents. Those that used theirs were brought before the king for commendation and reward while the man that hid his talent was condemned and cast out into a place of regret.  In the days ahead, we will look at some examples of those that used their talents and how it brought them before kings. What are your gifts/talents? How are you utilizing them? Sing A&M 331, Abu 109

Food for Thought: “Concealed talent brings no reputation” – Erasmus.

Memory verse: Matthew 25:20

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to utilize my gifts and may they bring me before great men in Jesus name. Amen\