When I
think about the word start, there are many things that come to mind. Our middle daughter was on the track team
when she was in middle school, and runners would prepare for their races and
hear the start gun go off when the race started. There is a start button on your Microsoft
windows software (not on my Mac). Most
board games have a place to start. On
the GPS when you chose a destination there is always a place to start. Even some cars have a button that starts them
now. Often the place to start is your
current location.
Right
where you are is the best place to start.
I have heard people say for years that they have to get right or do
things so that God will save them or help them.
The Bible and God says something totally opposite. He says start with me.
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old
life is gone; a new life has
begun!
1 John 2:12
NLT
I am writing to you who are God’s children because
your sins have been forgiven
through Jesus.
The
Christian life starts as we realize what God has done in our lives. He makes us new and forgives our sins. That is the greatest starting place of all. Over the last 7 weeks at The Community
fellowship we have had someone start with, or accept, Jesus as his or her
Savior.
Another
great start for the Christian is realize that we have potential given to us by
God. We are doing better then we think
we are because of what God has done. On top
of that we have been given gifts or talents by God. A great start is to simply start using what
God has given us.
Romans 12:6-8 NLT
In his grace, God has given us different gifts for
doing certain things well. So if God has
given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has
given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be
encouraging. If it is giving, give generously.
If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility
seriously. And if you have a gift for
showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
Find
out what your gifts are. Ask the people
you are around, study the Bible (the verses above and 1 Corinthians 12) and
find some resources to help you understand what those gifts might be. Begin to use them.
Remember
they are and will always be for God’s glory and to help others. In fact I am convinced that these spiritual
gifts that we use to serve God not only are a good starting place, but they are
also a great way to start demonstrating God’s love to the people you are
around. People need God. The happenings around us and the people around
us are showing that truth.
Start
loving people as God’s does. Start using
what God has given you. Start giving God
all the glory if you are not already.
I pray
that God will start something awesome in each of us as we seek Him this
Christmas season!
Romans 12:9
NLT
Don’t just pretend
to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold
tightly to what is good.
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