Author: Paul Nordman

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Fan the Flame Within

It was a cringe-worthy moment, for sure. God had chosen Saul to be Israel’s king, saying to the prophet Samuel, “This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people.”1 When it came time to introduce the sovereign to his subjects, however, Saul “was not to be found.”2 They inquired of the Lord as to Saul’s whereabouts, to which God replied, “He has hidden himself among the supplies.”3 So the people “ran and brought him out.”4 Talk about an inauspicious beginning! The man was anointed to lead, but he chose instead to hide.

The Bible teaches us “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts”5 and they are “given to each of us so we can help each other.”6 The Spirit is “the source of them all,”7 and “He alone decides which gift each person should have.”8 Leadership is one such gift,9 and there are a host of others — teaching, helps, encouragement, and evangelism, to name a few.10 So, again, we all have at least one spiritual gift, the Spirit apportions them just as He chooses, and by them we help each other. Some of us know our spiritual gifts, and for those who do not, there are various resources to help you discover them, including your fellow believers who are closest to you.11

Then regardless of what gifts we have been given, Peter exhorts us to use them. “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another.”12 Now, it is easy to forget about the gifts imparted to us or to neglect them, leaving us less effective in Kingdom work, so twice the apostle Paul redirected his young protégée Timothy back to his spiritual gifts: “fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you,”13 and again, “Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received.”14

What might it look like when we all operate in the power of our spiritual gifts? Paul gives us a glimpse: “If God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”15 Imagine the impact when each of us “fans into flames the gifts God has given us.”

So let’s not neglect our gifts or hide from serving in them. Instead, may we discover them, remember them, stir them up, and use them boldly. Today.

Father, send Your Spirit to reveal the gifts given to each of us, and lead us to serve boldly in Your power wherever You direct us today. Be glorified in your Church. In Christ we pray. Amen.

1 1 Samuel 9:17 NIV
2 1 Samuel 10:21 NIV
3 1 Samuel 10:22 NIV
4 1 Samuel 10:23 NIV
5 1 Corinthians 12:4 NLT
6 1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT
7 1 Corinthains 12:4 NLT
8 1 Corinthians 12:11 NLT
9 Romans 12:8
10 Note: To develop a list of spiritual gifts, see 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 1 Corinthians 12:28, Romans 12:6-8, Ephesians 4:11, and 1 Peter 4:9-10.
11 Note: “Discover Your Spiritual Gifts the Network Way” by Bruce Bugbee is an example of a spiritual gifting discovery resource.
12 1 Peter 4:10-11 ESV
13 2 Timothy 1:5-7 ESV
14 1 Timothy 4:14 NLT
15 Romans 12:6-8 NLT

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Our Unity, God’s Glory

Jesus’ disciples were just like us in many ways, and curiosity about the end times was one of them. So over two entire chapters in Matthew’s historic account, Jesus told them what to expect, including this verbal exchange, which will happen at the appointed time.

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” — Matthew 25:37-40 NIV

Did you notice? Jesus did not say serving others will be “as if” we were serving Him; rather, “whatever you did for [others], you did for me.” This declares a oneness beyond closeness. It expresses, as well, a divine desire fulfilled, for Jesus petitioned to the Father that we would be restored to unity with Himself — “that I myself may be in them,”1 — and with each other, as well: “that they may be one as we are one.”2 Relational restoration glorifies God: It declares His power and love. So, in our remaining space today, let’s absorb three Scriptures and let them guide us as one in the glory of God.

“I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth — everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” — Isaiah 43:6-7 NIV God calls forth from around the globe one body of believers, with Christ as its head, to fulfill His purpose for us: to glorify God.

“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” — Romans 15:5-6 ESV In mutual submission to each other and collective submission to Christ, we glorify God in common confession.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. . . Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5:14-16 NIV Our obedience to God stirs others to glorify Him.

Why unity? God’s glory.

 “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.”3 Amen.

1 John 17:26 NIV
2 John 17:22 NIV
3 1 Chronicles 29:11 ESV

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What I Learned that Summer of Vicodin

It was 2007, or “the Summer of Vicodin” (as I’ve since dubbed it), when I ruptured a disc in my back. The pain was intense, in constant need of management, and unforgiving of any misstep. But I wanted to remain active, even if only in small ways, so one evening Peggy and I set out for a (very) slow walk. About three houses down from ours, a serenading songbird burst forth into solo, and I instinctively looked in the direction of the little soprano. As I jerked my head high up and to the right, a searing pain shot through my ankle, down low and to my left! There I began to realize how intricate the interconnectivity among all the components of the human body.

The same is true of the body of Christ: we are truly joined together, much more so than we realize. This is God’s desire and plan for us. On the evening of His betrayal, Jesus’ implored of the Father that believers “may be one as we are one — I in them and you in me —so that they may be brought to complete unity.”1 And so we have, as Paul explained, “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”2 We, who are many, blend into one — intricately interconnected — thus, “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”3 This is who we are; it is our collective identity as the Church into which we are called to live, grow, and mature.

Now, putting others first is warm and lofty in an aspirational sense, but in actuality our sin nature bristles at inconvenience and chafes at sacrifice, and it is prone to envy the success of others. So Paul directs our attention “high up and to the right” so to speak: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”4 This is a jolt to our sin nature— “a searing pain down low and to the left” — for “the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.”5 Undaunted in conflict, Paul calls us onward, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another.”6 This is what it looks like as, in Christ, “me” gives way to “we.” May we so live.

“Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2 NLT

Father, Your ways are infinitely higher than ours, and You call us to walk in them. Inspire us, the body of Christ, that we would genuinely care for others in our thoughts, words, and deeds. In Christ we pray. Amen.