Are You Reaching Your Divine Potential?
Good Morning Friends,
Our faithfulness, resolve and dependability is not enough. If we are to bear fruit for the Kingdom we must have the seed of the King in us. It may take a while to sprout but when it does we are to bear fruit by encouraging others to bloom as well. Are You Reaching Your Divine Potential?
Scripture: Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”
Genesis 1:26 (NRSV)
Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing. And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all.
1 Thessalonians 5:11, 14, 15 (NRSV)
“For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.
Matthew 25:14-29 (NRSV)
Those who have been born of God do not sin, because God’s seed abides in them; they cannot sin, because they have been born of God.
1 John 3:9 (NRSV)
and what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well.
2 Timothy 2:2 (NRSV)
Message: God knows your potential. And we each are responsible for what we have been given and part of that is helping others live confidently in uncertain times, but in the final analysis it is God that determines what is used. Yes, living the Christian life is about using what God has given us but it is also about joining God in what God is already doing. It is about recognizing that seed of the divine in each of us and making sure that we do not deny our potential for being something more. The scripture of the day tells us to have faith in respectful relationships. Today’s scripture also encourages us to not give up on ourselves or others. The underlying message is about discipleship. We are to get involved in embracing God’s will for us using the gifts we have been given and to disciple others on the way. Here we must learn to trust in God for our growth. Remember that God has made an investment in us that He wants to honor and when we reinvest these resources in the Kingdom, He will. Look for Him and His invitation to join with others turning the potential of the pew into the power of purpose…turning the potential of the divine in each of us into what God would have us to be. Friends, to whom much is given much is required. If the master were to return today, how would you measure up? Is there something you need to be doing to reach your divine potential?
Pray that we have faith in what God is doing in our lives. Pray that we help the weak and encourage the timid with tenderness and patience. Pray that we have devotion and direction on the path of our community so we might be working in unity. Pray that we have confidence in our prospects for the future. Pray that we be more than the halfhearted creatures. Pray that we bloom and bring forth fruit. Pray that we have confidence. Pray that we share encouragement in ways that help us and others grow in the Kingdom. Pray we live a divine life…a compassionate life. Pray we love to grow and we grow to love in a way that produces a harvest that shows a return on God’s investment in us. Pray we remember we were born in God’s image so we might glorify God. Pray we have a faith that helps us to overcome sin. Pray we understand the reason for righteousness. Pray we realize that being called a child of God comes with a responsibility as well as a privilege.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 