Use your Talents

His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’  —Matthew 25:23

The parable of the talents in Matthew 25 reminds us to use the talents God has given us wisely. 

All of us have God-given skills and abilities at various levels.

And we must not bury, unused, what God has given us.

It is not only in our years of strength that God will use us, but also in our youth and age, as well as in our sickness and weakness. 

Let us continue to serve God. 

Let us honor our Savior by using our skills.

May our lives be a living sacrifice of love and action for God's honor.

God can use us at any age if we are willing.

Put on the New Man

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. —Colossians 3:9-11

Here, In Paul’s letter to the Christians at Colosse, he described a restoration of God’s people. 

There are two influences in our lives. 

One is the old man, that is, the person we were before trusting Christ. 

The other is the new man who is becoming more like Christ. 

We are to put off the behavior patterns of our old ways and put on the new character qualities of Christ.

The apostle described a spiritual renewal from the living God who created us and gave us new life in His Son, Jesus Christ. 

Our lives are in the skilled hands of our Lord who knows who and what He designed us to be. 

No matter how sin-damaged and dirty we may be, there is hope for renewal and restoration. 

The Master Artist is alive and at work within us. 

Salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ

Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. (Romans 5:18)

Some struggle to accept that salvation is a gift.

They want to do something to earn it.

The problem is, no one can afford it.

The price of salvation is perfection (Matt. 19:21), and the Lord Jesus Christ is the only person who could pay the price.

To anyone who thirsts, the Lord Jesus Christ promises to "give of the fountain of the water of life freely" (Rev. 21:6).

Some people try to purchase the living water of salvation with good deeds and charitable donations.

Although these are forms of spiritual service valued by God, they are not what God requires for the forgiveness of our sin.

The Lord Jesus Christ already paid the price by dying in our place, and He offers to quench our spiritual thirst when we drink freely from God's fountain that will never run dry.

God's Protection and Care

"Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

God promises believers protection and care through life's threats and troubles.