The House You're Building

[1] I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, [2] with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, [3] eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [4] There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—[5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. [7] But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. [8] Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” [9] (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? [10] He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) [11] And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teacher...

  Are you a gift giver?  If you’re at all familiar with Gary Chapman’s landmark book  The Five Love Languages , you’re aware of his theory that each person receives and gives love in different ways. Personally, receiving gifts is not the primary way I receive love.  Yet I love to give them when there is no expectation to supply a present.  When I’m online or in a shop and see something personal, funny, meaningful, I usually buy it and give it as a “just because” present.  Not for a birthday or Christmas, I like to surprise people with thing that reminded me of them.    Spiritual gifts work in a similar way.  They are at times intentional, but more often a spontaneous offering meant to bring joy to another.  They seem natural to us because they are indeed in our nature.  God gives every believer, though the anointing of the Holy Spirit, a unique role that is needed for Christian community to functio...

Have you ever done something dumb? I laugh internally as I type that thought because if you didn’t mentally acquiesce answer in the affirmative than you just made your first idiotic move.     Foolishness resides in our sin nature.  It is easily noticed character flaw that makes us differ from God.  Even at the thought level God is superior to us [1] .  To be foolish means to lack good sense or judgement; to act on a whim without thinking of the consequences.                  The wisest of women builds her house,                         but folly with her own hands tears it down.-Proverbs 14:1   My current lack of discernment was birthed by pride.  Earlier in the week, some friends that I send weekly devotionals to gave me a compliment on my ...