GOD'S POWER SUPPLY FOR BELIEVERS -- Devotional for October 14, from "Good Seeds"

Serve one another. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another. (Galatians 5:13; I Peter 4:10)

Since many children don’t start the day with good nutrition some schools provide breakfast for their students, based on the premise that heads can’t be filled if tummies are empty. The work of learning can be applied to the work of fighting, for everyone knows “an army marches on its stomach.” The Bible says “you must not muzzle the ox that treads out the grain” (I Corinthians 9:9). Common wisdom tells us that no work can be accomplished without a power supply. Pastor J. H. Jowett said, “He who gives the command will also give the equipment.” And Bible teacher and author David Roper wrote, “No one is without a divinely appointed task, and the divine means for getting it done.” These are many ways of saying what Paul and Peter taught the church regarding the role of each of its members: On the day of a new Christian’s spiritual birth God gives him His Spirit, to live inside him, to assure him of his place in God’s family, and then teach and to guide him. Along with this gift of God’s presence comes another “birthday” present: a special, spiritual gift. There are as many nuances in the variety of these gifts as there are individual Christians who receive them, and yet there is just one singular purpose for all: that they “be employed in the service of others.” As common as the knowledge of this truth is among Christians, it is sad to see how very uncommon it is in practice. Even those who are taught from the beginning to live first for Jesus, and then for others, still spend way too much time – and expend far too much energy – looking out for number one! And it is because we concern ourselves so broadly in seeking just the perfect place of ministry, that we spread ourselves so thinly over the masses in serving them in the name of Jesus! We compete for places of honor and recognition, when the only competition among believers in Jesus should be our attempts at outdoing one another in serving one another! This is what Paul was saying to the Christians of the church at Galatia: “Beware of using God’s gift of freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do – which will destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows.” If the record shows that “Jesus went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), why do most of us content ourselves with just “going about”? Oh, we may be earnestly trying to serve our fellow man, but if we’re doing it with only human energies and agendas we are no more than “Peace Corps Christians.” But if we are in touch with heaven’s directives and resources – God’s power supply for believers – there is no limit to what God can and will do through us!