I admit it. I am a re-gifter. And I know I am not the only one.
At our wedding shower we opened a gift from Rachel, the preacher’s daughter (who was also getting married that month). Inside was a little card that read, To: Rachel and Steve ... From: Carla and Jim.
We had a good laugh over that one, and I was happy for it. It became my favorite casserole dish (win, win). But there are some instances when gifts are not used so positively.
The Devil roams around like a roaring lion, trying to devour all of God followers. He is so dirty he'll even use the gifts and desires God places within us to use against us. In the Garden of Eden, he used Eve's desire to be like God (a noble desire) against her. He told her she would “be like God, knowing good and evil,” and that by eating the fruit she would "become wise.” He tempted her so much that in her effort to be like God she forgot God.
Satan used Moses' love for God's people to stir up anger, which ended with Moses committing murder.
David’s passion produced many beautiful praise songs, but Satan used it to notice a lady in a tub, which David allowed to end in unholy passions.
Satan also led Joseph to brag about his prophesies, which led his brothers to sell him into slavery and Joseph to later end up in prison.
Part of our heavy responsibility is to not only use the gifts God gives us but to also tame them so they can continue to be used for the Lord and not the enemy. Even when we slip and fall (as all of these did), God's redemptive hand stays waiting to use us again—at just the right time and in just the right way.
God is the master restorer and second-chance granter. Use your gifts for Him.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
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April Estes lives in Knoxville and is a Mom to four, wife to one, and enjoys writing songs while waiting in carpool.