Rick Warren's Daily DevotionalSample

Keep Developing Your Skills If you don't exercise your muscles, they weaken and atrophy. In the same way, if you don't utilize the abilities and skill God has given you, you will lose them. Jesus taught the parable of the talents to emphasize this truth. Referring to the servant who failed to use his one talent, the master said, "Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents." (Matthew 25:28 NIV) Fail to use what you've been given and you'll lose it. Use the ability you've got and God will increase it. Whatever gifts you have been given can be enlarged and developed through practice. For instance, no one gets the gift of teaching fully developed. But with study, feedback, and practice, a "good" teacher can become a better teacher. Stretch yourself and learn all you can. Take advantage of every training opportunity to develop your shape and sharpen your serving skill. In heaven, we are all going to serve God forever. Right now, we can prepare for that eternal service by practicing on earth. Like athletes preparing for the Olympics, we keep training for that big day. "They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally." (1 Corinthians 9:25 Msg)