I am a re-gifter. I admit it. And I know I am not the only one, because at our wedding shower we opened a gift from Rachel, the preacher’s daughter (who was also getting married that month), and inside was was a little card that said
To: Rachel and Steve From: Carla and Jim
We had a good laugh over that one, and I was happy for it, because 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 God followers. He is so dirty he’ll even use the gifts and desires God places within us to use them AGAINST us. In the Garden, 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 by eating the fruit she would “become wise”. He tempted her so much that in her effort to be LIKE God, she FORGOT God.
Later, he used Moses’ love for God’s people to stir up anger, which ended in Moses committing murder.
He used the passion of David (which made beautiful praise songs) notice a lady in a tub, which David allowed to end in unholy passions.
He used Joseph’s prophesies to all lead him to brag, leading in years of slavery and prison.
Part of our heavy responsibility is not only to USE the gifts God’s given us, but to also TAME them to continue to be used for the LORD, and not the enemy. The good news is even when we slip and fall (as all these did), God’s redemptive hand stays waiting to use us again, at just the right time and in just the right way. He is a master Restorer and second chance Granter.
Sweet Mimosa 