Sharing the Gifts of God

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 12:09 pm Post subject: Sharing the Gifts of God

Sharing the Gifts of God

Scripture:

And the multitude of believers had but one heart and one soul. Neither did any one say that aught of the things which he possessed was his own: but all things were common unto them. And with great power did the Apostles give testimony of the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord: and great grace was in them all. For neither was there any one needy among them. For as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the price of the things they sold, and laid it down before the feet of the apostles. And distribution was made to every one, according as he had need. (Acts 4:32-35)

Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God. And every one that loves him who begot, loves him also who is born of him. In this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep his commandments. For this is the charity of God: That we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not heavy. For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory which overcame the world: Our faith. Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, Jesus Christ: not by water only but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit which testifies that Christ is the truth. (1 John 5:1-6)

Now when it was late the same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst and said to them: Peace be to you. And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them: and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him: We have seen the Lord. But he said to them: Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the place of the nails and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days, again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst and said: Peace be to you.

Then he said to Thomas: Put in your finger here and see my hands. And bring here the hand and put it into my side. And be not faithless, but believing. Thomas answered and said to him: My Lord and my God. Jesus said to him: Because you have seen me, Thomas, you have believed: blessed are they that have not seen and have believed. Many other signs also did Jesus in the sight of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing, you may have life in his name. (John 20:19-31)

Reflection:

What we receive from God in abundance, we are called to share such that we might fulfill the commandments to love. All should seek to sow such that they may reap, but there are those who lack the talents to sow. God then, calls those who have reaped in abundance to care for those who are unable to reap. He also looks for those who are unable to sow to fulfill their responsibilities so that the work is shared. Whatever the gift granted by God, it is not a true gift unless it may be used for His purpose.

What we share is left to our choice, for it is only a blessing to those who receive if what is given is freely given in His name. There are times we are able to care for those in need and there are times we are the ones in need. If all seek to care, our times of need will be few; but those who only demand, but do not give will be held to account. Blessed is the one who receives during their time of need, but seeks to share more than what was received when their time of trial passes.

The One who was sent to the world to save those who would seek the Father through Him gave of Himself so that all might have hope. The burden He carried and the sacrifice He made is well beyond what is asked of us, but what was witnessed and what has been observed by the generations is a small example of the vast love our God has for each of us. So that we might not perish, but have everlasting life, He sacrificed Himself for the sins of those who believe in Him. As He used love to conquer death, so too may we use love to demonstrate our belief in Him.

This is the sobering truth to which many are blind; the love of God and love of one another is the path to removing our afflictions within the world. When we abandon this path, then, the door is opened for evil to ravage the land. The understanding of this truth cannot be imposed, for love itself cannot be imposed. Love must come from the center of our being. Love must guide us, else, what we do is artificial. If we truly believe in Him, we will open our hearts to love and set aside what tempts us to words and deeds which cause pain to others.

This is a truth of which we must remind ourselves over and over; for it is the sins of one which lead to the sins of another. It is the hurt passed which drives the desire to return the hurt received. Revenge becomes a cycle which is spawned through the generations. It is our envy which spurs the desire to cause envy in others. It is the belief that we are somehow superior over any other child of the creation of God which drives the ambition of oppression. While each of us has talents granted to us by God, we are also missing talents which others have beyond us.

We are not perfect in all things, for only He is perfect; therefore, He asks that we share our gifts so that we may better understand the blessings of His perfection. It is through our love and caring for one another we approach the understanding of His love for us. We cannot possibly love Him if we do not also heed His commandment to love and serve one another.

There is no fault in competition; it is to the end to which competition is applied in which the fault is found. The ones who are focused on the fruits of superiority and oppression will find a poison fruit indeed. They will become slaves to conflict and pain. Those who abuse the weak in this world shall find a day in which they will be held to account for their evil. They, themselves, shall be made weak and will be abandoned to the darkness.

Through prayer, we should ask that those who are blind to love shall have their eyes opened so that all may be freed from the cycles of evil within this world. In prayer, we should ask that we do not lose our sight to the blessings of love and that we are given the strength to be part of its source.

Some may ask, for what purpose do we seek this thing of love? Some may ask, for what purpose do we deprive ourselves of the fruits of personal ambitions, for why should we care if what we do drives harm to others? The question is asked because they are seduced by what they believe they see, and because they do not understand that to which they are blind.

Some might ask, how can any mother possibly consider killing the child growing inside of them, for is not the child flesh of their flesh? They are seduced to a decision based upon selfishness, not one based upon love for another life. The mother does not see the person being formed within them, therefore, they do not believe they are ending a life before it is ever lived. It is to what we are blind, to what we do not open our hearts to see which leads to the harm delivered to another.

In prayer, we should ask for forgiveness when what we do and what we fail to do leads to the harm of another. He sees when we have been deceived and He offers us forgiveness when we finally see through the deception which seduces us to our trespasses and transgressions. It is for this reason He endures the stripes; it was for this reason he bears the wounds of his hands, feet and side; He endured all so that our sins may be washed away by His blood and through our belief in Him that we might be saved.

It is because we believe we see that to which we were blind. It is because we do not believe unless we see that we remain in the darkness. Blessed are we, for He came to be the light of the world so that all might see. Blessed are those who stood before Him and witnessed the sacrifice made for them, for their eyes were opened and their doubt was quenched. Blessed are those who see the light, for they have the opportunity to guide others to feel its warmth and blessing and to help open the eyes which have been closed by the world.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier