Devotional:

The thing that set the church in Philadelphia apart wasn’t what they had, but what they did with what they had.

What the church in Philadelphia lacked in strength, they made up for in obedience. They kept Jesus’ word and did not deny Him, enduring patiently as they gave their time, talent, and treasure to follow Jesus and build His kingdom.

In Isaiah 49:23, God promises that “those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”

That was true for the church in Philadelphia, and it’s true for each of us. God has given all of us different gifts, skills, and abilities to help build His church. Whether you’ve been following Jesus for five months or 50 years, every Christian has at least one spiritual gift. And like the church in Philadelphia, we are to hold on to our gifts and use them to build God’s kingdom (Revelation 3:11).

Many people make the mistake of thinking that they need a little Christian “seasoning” before they can be useful to the church and others. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We are all at different places in our journey with Jesus. God just wants each of us to take the opportunities before us each day to use our various gifts and influence for Him — however big or small those resources may be.

Using the gifts and abilities God gave us to build our own reputation or kingdom might be profitable for a season. But as the churches who went before us know, when we use those gifts and abilities for God, we build something that lasts into eternity.

Reflect:

• What are you passionate about? What do you do well? If you aren’t sure, ask people around you. These answers could help identify your spiritual gifts.
• How can you use your gift(s) to build God’s kingdom?