Be an example in deploying your gifts 1Tim 4:12-16
Be reminded that these four verses were an admonition from Paul to Timothy encouraging him to be an example to believers. As a family, we can start from our household. 1Tim 4: 16 says when we do all these, we will save ourselves and those who hear from us.
I believe the heart cry of all Christian parents is for their children to be saved and abide in Christ. Therefore, pay attention as we look into how we can show others the way to use their gifts.
To begin, what gifts have you discovered?
Is it possible that your children have gifts that you or they have not discovered yet?
Activity 1: Pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes and heart to the gift of God in your lives. Then, ask each person to make a list of their gifts. It is easier to identify those gifts that are visible e.g singing, use of instruments, dancing, drawing, cooking, crafts. What about those exceptional abilities you probably didn’t think of as gifts or you even thought that the child was a nuisance e.g talking a lot.
The next step is to see how you have been adding skills to these gifts to improve your competence.
Activity two: Ask each family member to write down how many minutes is allotted to developing their skills on a weekly basis, apart from scheduled lesson time e.g music lessons.
For example, if a child is gifted in drawing, is there a set time when he/she practices drawing? Have you identified resources to help with this (you can talk to the art teacher at school if you don’t know how to find resources). For music, how many minutes a day does your child practice playing an instrument. A little practice each day will make a difference.
A further step is to discuss how you have been deploying these gifts and look into how else you can deploy them.
Here are some examples:
1) If you can sing, have you considered joining the choir at the church or found out if there’s a Christian choir in your community that provides the opportunity to worship God. As a parent, if you do this, you will show example to your children and other believers.
2) If you can bake, have you considered taking some cookies to church for after service refreshment. This is a way of showing example of love by giving to others in your community.
If your child talks a lot, write in the comment box how you think this can be deployed as a gift to serve God and bless others.
Family circle: Pray for each family member to discovery and deploy their gifts to the glory of God continually in Jesus name.
# talents
#competence
#worship
Raising Godly Children 