TO EFFECT CHANGE

There are some things we can't change, like the day of the week, the time of day, the short-term weather, the color of our skin, our birth family, or everybody over to our perspective. As Gandalf said in The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring -  "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” The wonderful addition is God helps us out with this decision.

"Given" implies a Giver. David said to God Almighty, The Giver of time itself -  "all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." (Psalm 139:16) James adds a qualifying remark about anything we receive in life, when he said, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17)

So, we have an Ordainer of Days who has nothing but good and perfect gifts that He desires to distribute. How do we make good on the time God has allotted for our lives? How can we best make a lasting influence while we exist in this chapter of life? One of the Scriptures to help nurture the believer in Christ toward a decision of action in The Faith is 1 Peter 4:10.  This verse talks about how the Christian has the responsibility as the representative and administrator of God's many variations of grace by utilizing the gift given in him/her to serve others.

• "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms."

So, God helps us decide "what to do with the time that is given us" - serve others. Here is a part we can effect. Here is a role to get used to quickly because Christ not only teaches us to emulate Him in this manner, but a reward is promised for faithful stewardship.

“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Matthew 25:19-21)

Even though the parable speaks to the overseeing of money, that is not all the Lord has entrusted to us in this life. As evident in the 1 Peter 4:10 verse there is a call to action for all Christians to use the gift The Giver has given So That you can show God's favor to others. I believe all believers have a gift the Lord has bestowed upon them. If you have not discovered what that sharable gift is then I encourage you to search and seek God about it.

Believers in Christ have been given a command, an example and a reward for effective stewardship of our Heavenly gifts. It is a nice package that requires our obedience To Effect Change.