January 2017 - Page 2 of 2 - GraceAndWorks

Farming is a gamble. You’ve tilled the ground in the right manner. The seed you purchased has a good germination rate. All things are ready for planting, but, there doesn’t seem to be enough moisture. You gamble on the fact it will rain. The rain came and all is good. The plants are coming through the ground. WHEW!! If you’ve planted winter wheat, you hope the winter isn’t too severe so the crop doesn’t winter kill. Spring comes, the winter wasn’t bad, and the crop is growing. We need rain!! The rain comes and all is good. The crop is fine and getting ready to harvest. Hope it doesn’t hail. Sure enough here comes a terrible storm and hails out the crop. Farming is a gamble. All things were done right, yet, there is no crop. YUCK!!

Getting in your car for a drive is a gamble. You’ve had the car checked out and the mechanic said everything is OK. The tank is full of gas, the seat belts are fastened, and we’re off for a drive. You’re driving the speed limit, watching out for other drivers, and all is going well. When all of a sudden, out of nowhere, someone crashes into you. The trip is over!! Driving is a gamble. All things were done right, yet, you didn’t get to finish the trip. YUCK!!

Life itself is a gamble. Your health is good, have a nice home, good job, a lovely family, and everything is OK. All of a sudden you lose your job and can’t find another one quick enough. The house is foreclosed on, you and the spouse start arguing. Divorce proceedings start and the family starts to go south. Depression sets in and you’ve got that feeling that life, as you knew it, is over!! Life itself is a gamble. All things had been done right, yet, things didn’t finish like you had thought. YUCK!!

Salvation is not a gamble. It is all laid out for you in the Bible. Follow the directions that God gives you and all will be well, Those directions are plain and easy to follow. Read, study, and remain steadfast in your Christian walk. God says, “All you have to do is obey My commands and I will prepare for you a place.” Sounds easy enough. Now just be like Nike, do it!! All things were done right. Salvation is yours!! No gamble–no YUCK!!

I have watched a lot of football and half time shows this weekend, probably just like you. As I watched everything, the talent shown by individuals and teams was absolutely amazing.

The bands, as they came onto the field, were all dressed in uniforms and carrying different instruments. It was a team and yet they were individuals. Each member had a different talent, a different place to be on the field, different responsibilities, and different instruments. Yet, as they came together as a team, they performed as one and were remarkably good.

The referees, for the most part, did a good job. They also work as individuals and as a team. Each ref has his own spot on the field, responsibilities, and a different talent. It takes all of them doing their job to keep the game fair and orderly.

The football team has 11 players on offense and 11 players on defense, with many more on the bench serving as substitutes. Each player is an individual, has a certain place to be, responsibilities, and a different talent from others. Each play they have a different responsibility to perform and a different talent used. Yet when the play starts, they come together and perform as a team.

It came to me as I watched the 3 1/2 to 4 hour showing that everything from announcers, cheerleaders, bands, players, and referees, all was based around individual talent and team effort.

The more I thought about this subject, I could see that life itself was the same way. Whether it be work, family, government, friends, or….. we all have different talents and yet need to perform as teams in order to be successful.

Paul tells the Christians, in the 4th chapter of the letter to the Ephesians, that God has given each individual different talents. We see in God’s Kingdom that it is made up of congregations (Teams) and the congregations are made up of individuals. We do our work in the Kingdom and in individual congregations based upon our own talents. When we put those talents together, we can become successful in our journey towards Heaven. Don’t try to make this journey on your own. You’ll need the rest of your team, to be successful.

A New Years resolution for one and all: I WILL ATTEND WORSHIP SERVICES ON EACH SUNDAY.

Have a good year. SMILE God loves YOU!!