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Our Giftedness
Irene Smith was a Quaker and missionary to Japan for 50 yrs. She first went to Japan in 1915, and her first assignment was to serve in the Tokyo Rescue Home. She worked to save prostitutes from their entrapment in government licensed brothels. These young girls were unwanted by their parents who sold them into a life of prostitution. It was discouraging work because the girls, no matter how they seemed to repent, would often revert to their old lifestyle as soon as they regained their health. What could Irene Smith do to make a difference? In the midst of her frustration, she thought, “It would be better to put a fence at the top of the precipice than an ambulance at the foot.” And with that a vision was born – a home for unwanted girls warmed by love and brightened with God’s grace. It would be a home where little girls once destined for brothels and disease could be brought up in happiness to lead full and useful Christian lives. So she worked for many years endeavoring to keep young girls from falling over that particular precipice. Irene Smith had the gift of mercy and used it to bring many girls, unwanted by their parents, to Jesus Christ, saving them from untold misery and heartache. The Scriptures teach us that every person of faith has at least one gift that is to be used in the church for the benefit of others. That is a vital part of Jesus’ blueprint. God has designed the church to be an organic body – a living organism. Romans 12:5-6 states, “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.” Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them…” One of the gifts Paul mentions in Romans 12 is exhortation. Exhortation means to encourage or comfort one another. It comes from the root word which means “to call along side.” It has the idea of someone calling another to come along side for strengthening or reassurance. It refers to those who are gifted to inspire others to actions, who awake the desire for spiritual growth. They are those who are able to encourage others to go on, remain steady in the face of grief, hurt, failure, and difficulty. There are times when people are afraid and uncertain. Some are spiritually dry, disappointed, discouraged. Those who have the gift of exhortation come along side us and give us encouragement. As a result, we feel strengthened, reassured, steadied, and lifted up. Barnabas was such a man. We read about him in Acts. Paul needed Barnabas when the other Christians failed to recognize that Paul was truly converted to Christ. He became Paul’s teacher and confidant, and he discipled Paul in those early years, protecting and encouraging him. A young pastor came to NYC church, and he didn’t seem to do very well in the first year. The deacons felt he had been a failure and wanted his resignation, but there was one deacon who spoke up and said, “Let us pray for him for a while and let’s all encourage him.” So they began to pray for him and encourage him as he stayed on for another year. In fact, he stayed for 42 years! His name was Dr. Stuart MacArthur, pastor of the famed Calvary Baptist Church of New York City. It is so important for those who have the gift of exhortation to use it for the sake of the body. Remember, God has gifted each of us with at least one special gift to use to help build up His church. Most of us have more than one. Whether we have the gift of exhortation or some other gift, the church needs us to use it for the sake of the body of Christ. Pastor Jeff
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