Exhortation? Really?

I am sorry that I haven't written since Sunday.  I have been working -- contemplating about things and mulling them over -- and thinking about you.  What should I write to you?  What do I feel I NEED to tell you?  Then I realized: just do what you said you were going to do.

So with that, I went and rated my responses to the questions in the survey we received.  In all transparency, I did go online to our church website and completed it there - where it did all the organizing and math for me.  I was surprised by my results.  Like I said before, it focused in 16 different gift areas.  I had a slight, opinion, about what my number one was going to be.  And boy, was I wrong!  My "opinion" came in at a five-way tie for THIRD!  What I always thought was my greatest gift, teaching, was tied with other things for third.  That meant I was really better at (or could be overcoming fear) two other things.  Right now I'm focusing on what was my top fit -- exhortation.

Really?  Exhortation, God?  You do know that means TALKING to other people, right?  But I was reminded that others hadn't been all that comfortable speaking before others, too.  Also, "talking" to others didn't have to mean actually speaking.  What?

Alright, so what DOES exhortation mean?  According to Dictionary.com, it is a noun - yeah, knew that.  Meaning 1 is the act or process of exhorting - yeah, no help.  So, meaning 2 is an utterance, discourse, or address conveying urgent advice or recommendations - yeah, better but still.  Further down the page, though, was the British dictionary's definition.  Its second definition is a speech or written passage intended to persuade, inspire, or encourage.  BINGO!  Now that one makes sense!  A written passage intended to persuade, inspire, or encourage I can do!  And I noted the continuation of the theme: writing.

For about two years now, I have been using a personal vision statement; a life purpose.  "My life purpose is empowerment - of myself and others."  In light of that, really, it shouldn't have come as a surprise to me that my top gift was suggested to be exhortation.  I had kind of known it already but didn't put a name to it.  "How" is still a little shifting but I know it has to do with writing and this blog.

There were some suggested Bible references about the gift of exhortation.  I liked the one Paul wrote in the letter to the Hebrews.   It says: "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deed, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV)  It's in a section where Paul is writing a comparison about the body of a human and the body of The Church.  Like each part of the human body has a different purpose (liver, lung, hand, foot), the people who follow Jesus each have a different purpose, too.  Some work together rather closely but each are still individual.  The verses talk about lifting each other up to their own purpose through Jesus.  I feel encouraged to press forward and step up.  I am made to use my "voice" - in whatever form it takes - to encourage others and inspire where I can. 

Today's Service Inspiration

Good afternoon.  I'm back again with a few thoughts about the message our pastor gave this morning.  Pastor Bob (well, that's what he goes by.  His 'official' name is Robert.) started a series about unlocking our potential.  Today's message was called "Finding Your Fit" and talked about spiritual gifts.

For a little background, spiritual gifts are God-given abilities.  There are about 16 categories they'll fall into, but I'm not getting into what they all are right now.  I'll have other blogs about my introspection into my ability or not to use each one.

I think that, following the path of my last post, I'm going to write today about a Bible verse from the selection he quoted.  1 Peter 4:10 in the New International Version (NIV) states: "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms."  This was written in a section of a letter to Christian groups in what now is Central Turkey.  Peter was writing to encourage them in the way they were living for God.

This verse grabbed my attention because, like I said, it seems to be a Biblically-based confirmation of what has been seeping into my awareness this last week.  It feels like I'm getting a little nudge in this.  You know what I mean?  You saw the type in those "Rocky"-types of movies -- the fighter is standing back into the corner of the ring.  He's not sure if he wants to go out there for another round.  But there's his trainer, and he's SURE the fighter can take out the other guy.  The trainer's up behind the fighter, rubbing his shoulders, and giving the fighter a little pep talk.  The trainer, of course, ends with a "now, go get 'em!" And the hands that were just massaging and supportive are now down on the fighter's shoulder blades and lovingly, but firmly shoving the fighter back into the center of the ring to fight.  That's how it felt this morning as I was listening to Pastor Bob read it out loud.

I now realize how much I have been neglecting my gifts.  My abilities have been gathering dust.  I know a few of them and I've been given the perfect opportunity to discover more.  It feels like this week has been "the pep talk" and today's verse is Jesus saying "now, go get 'em!"  The difference between the fighter and me -- my Trainer is out here in the ring with me and together we'll get through anything.

Pastor Bob's message today gave me a lot of encouragement and some practical and applicable information about looking for, developing, and properly using my gifts.  I have gotten some things to mull over.  Ultimately though, I love getting presents from people and I appreciate them.  How much more then that I love, appreciate, and share the gifts I have received from God!