Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

July 11
Wednesday


LIMITED
BUT USEFUL

READ:
Matthew 25:24-28
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I was with you in
weakness, in fear, and
in much trembling.
__1 Corinthians 2:3
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Suzanne Bloch, an immigrant from Germany, often played chamber music with Albert Einstein and other prominent scientists. She said that Einstein, though an accomplished violinist, irritated his fellow musicians by not coming in on the beat. "You see," Bloch explained, "he couldn't count." Einstein could project revolutionary theories about the cosmos, but he had idfficulty with rhythmic counting. Despite his limitation, he remained an enthusiastic musician.

Do we sometimes lament our limitations? We all have abilities, but we are also afflicted with inabilities. We may be tempted to use our limitations as an excuse for not doing the things God has enabled us to do. Just because we may not be gifted to speak in public or to sing in a choir doesn't mean that we can sit on the spiritual sidelines doing nothing.

When we realize that all of us have limitations, we can move forward by seeking God's guidance in using our gifts. Surely we can pray. Surely we can show kindness to others. We can visit the lonely, the sick, the elderly. We can tell with effective simplicity what Jesus means to us. Paul said, "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them" (Rom 12:6). __Vernon Grounds.
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Lord God, I humbly ask of You~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The strength to do Your will;~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I give to You my talents now~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Your purpose to fulfill. __Cetas~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Too many people make a mistake
by burying their talents.

*************Today's Bible Reading __ Matthew 25:24-28***********

24 Then he who had
received the one talent
came and said, "Lord, I
knew you to be a hard man,
reaping where you have not
sown, and gathering where
you have not scattered seed.

25 And I was afraid, and
went and hid your talent in
the ground. Look, there you
have what is yours."

26 But his lord answered
and said to him, "You
wicked and lazy servant,
you knew that I reap where
I have not sown, and gather
where I have not scattered
seed. 27 So you ought to
have deposited my money
with the bankers, and at
my coming I would have
received back my own with
interest.

28 "Therefore take the
talent from him, and give it
to him who has ten talents."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Although charging interest on a loan was against Jewish law
(Ex. 22:25;), loopholes could be found in the business
transactions of Jesus' day. Som Jewish businessmen followed the
Greek customs of commerce and charged Gentiles interest on loans.
Ofen rabbis would tell stories such as the parable in today's Bible
reading that included practices familiar to their audience. __HDF

Adapted from The IVP Bible Background Commentary