It’s Bigger Than You

Verse 14 begins with instruction.  How many times have you tried to deny the anointing that you carry, or is it just me?  But there is no denying the anointing or the calling of God.  The gifts are already inside you.  The “laying on of hands” recognizes the fact that God had called you for such a time as this.  You are who God says you are, and you don’t need prove yourself to other people either.  Don’t neglect who you are, the real you (not the one you pretend to be).  Allow God to move in you, to show you who you are to Him.  The Bible then says, meditate on these things and yield yourself to God entirely.  Now that’s huge.  We have to yield ourselves to God completely.  That’s the only way your gifts will be developed.  You have to stay connected to the True Vine to produce fruit.  In order to develop what God has placed in you, you have to be tuned into Him.  You prevent neglecting your gifts by giving yourself entirely to doing the will of God.

It goes on to say that your progress will be evident to all.  Now, it doesn’t say that all will celebrate your progress, or that all will understand your progress.  It says that your progress will be noticeable.  They will see the evidence of your obedience to God.  That means you have to acknowledge what you carry and seek God as to how you are to express your gifts in the Kingdom of God.  Give yourself wholly to allowing God to mold and shape you.  And your progress will be the evidence.

Verse 16 reminds us once again to take heed.  That means “listen and pay attention.”  Learn about the God you serve and who you are in Him.  What does His word say?  Because God is who He says He is.  And as you express what He placed in you the way He said to do it (His will and His way), you will save yourself and those who hear you.  What?  You mean to tell me that people around me can be blessed just from my obedience?  Yes!  (The opposite is also true though, too…)  We have to be diligent in living a life that pleases the Lord because those around us will also be affected.  It really is bigger than all of us.