PUTTING ON YOUR PEACEMAKER TOOLBELT.
Throughout our Peacemakers for the Cause of Christ blog/podcast series we offer you a number of short exercises and/or resources that will aid you in bringing this blog/podcast theme to life. Enjoy!
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4: 9 (NIV)
Tool #3: Taking An Inventory of Fruit & Gifts. Blog/Podcast 3.3
Christ has no body but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes with which He looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good. Yours are the hands with which He blesses all the world. Yours are the hands. Yours are the feet. Yours are the eyes. You are His body. Christ has no body on earth but yours. St. Teresa of Avila.
When you and I decide that we are going to serve Jesus, giving Him our all in all in following Him, know that Jesus will rarely, if ever, work His wonders completely by Himself. His preference, my friends, is to always work alongside us, taking the treasures we have been given by Him, and as we willingly re-invest those treasures for His glory, He does what only God can do. A God-sized miracle!
I’d like to invite you into a time of reflection with Jesus. A bit of retreat, if you like, where you can sit down for a moment or two, take some deep cleansing breaths (some call that Breath Prayer or Centering Prayer), and simply invite the in-breaking presence of God’s Kingdom (Jesus’ presence) to become evident to you.
Now, ponder on this: What stands out as I survey the treasure Jesus has given me? Maybe the fruits of the spirit might be a good starting point? See Galatians 5: 22-23 (NIV)…
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Or, what about the wonderful gifts mentioned in Colossians 3: 12-15 (NIV)…
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Which of these fruits/gifts seem to be most evident in my day-to-day life? And now, as I report my inventory back to Jesus, am I willing to give Him permission to use these treasures in caring for others in need?
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