Act JustlySample

Using your gifts

Five children, ages 6 to 15, sat silently on a long wooden bench. All five were from the same family. Despite the bright sunny day, they sat in darkness, blind from birth by cataracts. In the West, these children would have had a restorative surgery before they spoke their first word. Mercy Ships was their only chance for a future in the light.

Onboard the Africa Mercy, Mercy Ships volunteer doctors performed successful surgeries for all five children – completely free of charge. The horrible darkness was gone! It was replaced by the music of children’s laughter. Their mother said, “I am so happy, so thankful.”

We are all different, in fact you are unique! You have a unique set of skills, talents and personality traits that make you who you are. In today’s passages, Paul tells us that we are all part of Christ’s body, and no one part of the body is more important than another. The eyes are just as important as the feet. Likewise, God has given all of us gifts and talents to use in His service. In Ephesians, we read that you are ‘God’s handiwork’. God created you ‘to do good works’. His exciting plans for you were planned in advance, before you were even born!

Getting to know who God made you to be is a lifelong process of discovery, but as we grow closer to God, in fellowship with others in the church, God shows us who He created us to be. No matter how you feel about yourself today, the truth is that you are part of God’s body. You have a part to play in His divine plans to bring hope, healing and love to this world. You are a masterpiece in the making!

God has chosen you to be part of His master plan, and it is our privilege to serve Him.

Over the last few days, we have thought about the ways that God brings justice into this world:  He works through His Spirit in you, He uses your experiences, He gives you gifts and blesses what you offer him, and He has good works for you to do in the service of others!

Call to action - Spend some time thinking about the gifts and talents God has given you. How could you use these gifts, alongside the wider church, to serve the worldwide poor? For inspiration take a look at Dr Odry Agbessi’s story.

If you've found this plan helpful, you can explore other plans from Mercy Ships in this series: Love Mercy; and Walk Humbly.