A Power Gift…
Terry Dashner……....Faith Fellowship Church PO Box 1586 Broken Arrow, OK 74013
More than 50 years ago at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, a young sociology professor assigned his class to a city slum to interview 200 boys. They were instructed to predict the boys’ futures on the basis of their findings.
Shocked at what they found in the slums, the students estimated that 90 percent of the boys interviewed would someday serve time in prison.
Twenty-five years passed. The same professor asked another class to try to locate the survivors of the 200 boys and compare what had happened. Of 180 of the original boys located, only four had ever been to jail.
Why had the predictions not turned out? A common denominator was sought in their lives, some value or influence that may have marked the difference. Through more interviews, it was found that over 100 of the men remembered having the same high-school teacher, a Miss O’Rourke, who had been a tremendous influence on them at the time. After a long search, Sheila O’Rourke was found in a nursing home in Memphis, now 70 years old. When asked for her explanation, she was puzzled. “All I can say,” she concluded, “is that I loved every one of them.”
Many times believers ask me how to determine spiritual gifts. Believers want to know what their gift is to develop and use it. That’s wonderful. But, I think we miss the point of “giftedness.” God has gifted us by His Holy Spirit. That is true; however, many believers want “power gifts” —miracles, healings, signs and wonders. May I share with you the greatest gift a believer may possess?
As a pastor with years of experience in local church ministry, may I share some observations? The older I get, the more I’m convinced that the greatest force, power, and impact a Christian can have on another human being is a work of love. That’s right—not just abstract love, but love in action is powerful and changes lives. Instead of looking for your gift, start loving people with acts (not just words) of loving-kindness. Melt your enemies with the love of God working through you.
Agreed. My love which is human, mortal, and limited comes up short when stretched to my enemies. That’s when I say, “Lord, love them through me.” God wants a surrendered vessel. He wants a vessel that will fill and empty with His love at His prompting. God wants to pour Himself through the believer to reach the world. What say you? Will you be His vessel? His love is powerful and changes lives forever.
Keep the faith. Stay the course. Jesus is coming soon and very soon.
Pastor T.
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