A Believer's Gifts


 

A Believer’s Gifts

 Believers discover their gifts as they travel down the road of life.  One such gift is helping others.  But its purpose is not only to enrich people - the poor and well-to-do alike, but to enlighten them.  To accomplish these blessings, it is necessary to have an active spiritual life.  A French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher Voltaire (1694–1778) wrote, “God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.”  What follows is a focus on some of our wonderful gifts e.g., Nature, Knowledge, Peace, and Holy Spirit. 

 Nature - A liberal politician, philanthropist, and scientist John Lubbock (1834–1913) said, “Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountains and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books.”  With ecologically consciousness minds there’s much talk about caring for nature.  Each day people should care for the trees, rivers, lakes, mountains and valleys.  They should experience the surge in the life for birds, fishes, and the abundance of wildlife in parks, forests, and jungles.  Unlike information in books Lubbock saw nature as teaching us valuable lessons.  It gives us comfort, food, clothing, and medicine.

 Knowledge - A Classical Greek philosopher Socrates (470/469–399 BCE) wrote, “To know, is to know that you know nothing.  That is the meaning of true knowledge.”  Socrates was referring to human senses that are deceptive.  Even with science and empirical studies there are often errors.  Many people experience the hardship of life, difficulties, and illness that teach lessons.  As they endeavor to understand life’s questions their thoughts are often polluted by their undeveloped senses.  With some studies they are left wondering about the knowledge they once thought was true.  With such changes they might conclude like the preeminent English poet and playwright William Shakespeare (1564–1616): “Ignorance is the curse of God; knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven.”  True knowledge could only be found through the Holy Spirit.

 Peace - An Indian politician and attorney Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948) said, “An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.”  That is why forgiving our fellowmen and women are important.  And with life’s possibilities people become channels of peace.  It’s wise to practice purity, and view this virtue as a goal to perpetuate.  As the German-born physicist Albert Einstein (1879–1955) wrote, “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.” In order to find peace problems arising between nations must be candidly discussed to find solutions.

 Holy Spirit - The Holy Spirit is a gift from God.  This is the greatest outpouring any believer could have.  Undoubtedly, he is a life-giving force and the light of life.  By him believers enjoy a supreme quality of life - that is enlightening, and full of everlasting love.  The Holy Spirit’s presence is sustained by a lifestyle of caring, and compassion toward others.  By living piously believers partake of this abiding truth of the Spirit. A senior pastor of the First Baptist Church Charles Stanley (b. 1932) said, “Earthly wisdom is doing what comes naturally.  Godly wisdom is doing what the Holy Spirit compels us to do.” So that’s why believers should strive to be led by the Spirit of Life.


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