Welcome to Black Rock
Church of the Brethren

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 1Corinthians 12:4-6 

So, a gift is the same as work? What? I sure don’t like that. And, well, I sure don’t like my gift coming with a responsibility for crying out loud! On so many Christmas mornings, I’ll never forget opening some awesome package with some new exciting electronic gadget inside, and I would be giddy just thinking of playing with it all day long. Until my parents told me, Brandon, first we have to put it together, and that’s gonna take a bit of time. 

Well I remember being so disappointed then. Ah this gift is great, but I can’t do anything with it. Okay I must admit, once they got it working, I was happy again. And I was never sorry, believe me, they got it for me, when it was all said and done. 

Friends sadly, don’t we want gifts the way we want them. With no strings attached, gifts where we need to do nothing to enjoy them? 

Well here, Paul tells us, anything worthwhile, is going to take some work. But God is always there to help you with it all, through it all, because, after all, he’s created and given it all. 

So how is God gifting you today? Is it through something new, is it through something keeping you going, is it through a job, passion, career? Is it through your family, your friends? Is it through health and strength? Is it even because of experience and intelligence? 

Even serving God, is a gift. Helping someone, talking to someone, taking time for someone, being there for someone, showing someone they mean something. My friends, either way through gifts and service, God is there, his spirit is moving. He longs for us to be blessed and to be a blessing. Those gifts and services are awesome, but yes, they both take work. 

So today, I’ll ask you, are you open to how God is gifting you? Are you ready to welcome him fully, to do something you haven’t, to go somewhere you haven’t, to be with someone you haven’t? Are you ready for God to gift you with a new talent, a new way of thinking, a new way of seeing somebody or something you just haven’t before? Is God gifting you with a refreshment to know he’s with you whatever you’re going through? 

Friend, always know. There are many gifts, different kinds of service, but the Lord is always working through them. So, while a gift may take some time to always unwrap, always know, God is working, and therefore, any work you must do will be a blessing in the end. So just keep thanking him, keep unwrapping the gift, keep serving, believe me, it’ll be worth it! To God be the glory in Jesus name. 

Pastor Brandon