Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Attitude”
Our Bible verse for today: “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” 1 Corinthians 12:7 (NIV)
Our thought for today: “Build on your strengths.”
Our human nature often causes us to focus on what we don’t have rather than on what we do have. That’s true whether we’re talking about money and possessions, or skills and talents, or health and looks. For instance, despite the money and possessions we do have, we can’t help but notice that others have more money and better things, and so we want what they have. Or, despite the fact that I can preach and teach and write, it’s still true that I can’t sing or dance or play the piano, but I would like to. And on it goes. We tend to want what we don’t have rather than what we do have.
In 1 Corinthians 12:7 the Apostle Paul was writing about the great truth that the Holy Spirit manifests Himself in each of our lives in special and unique ways. He creates within each of us certain spiritual gifts, along with skills, talents, and abilities. Those things are our strengths. Therefore those are the things we’re going to be best at and so those are the things we need to focus on first. God doesn’t necessarily need me to sing and dance and play the piano. Others are skilled at those things. But He does want me to preach and teach and write.
Rather than lamenting that we don’t have the skills, talents, or abilities that someone else has, we need to focus on what we do have and then build on that. That’s a positive and realistic attitude that will keep us focused, effective, and growing.
Of course there is a time and place to focus on developing new skills and talents, and there are areas of weakness in our lives that do need attention, but our focus needs to be primarily on what is right and good about us, and we need to be sure we are leveraging those things and utilizing them to their maximum potential.
That’s our attitude at Oak Hill Baptist Church. We’re a small church. But we see our small size as a strength not as a weakness. Because we are small we can be more personable. Because we are small that means each person gets more attention. Because we are small we are much more of a family than would be true in a big church. Those things are assets that we take advantage of and build on. We’re determined to be the best small church we can be.
Identifying your strengths and leveraging them for maximum benefit should be the starting place. Then from that firm foundation you can focus on developing new skills or fixing problem areas, but begin from a position of strength.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 