“But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent
way.”
1 Corinthians 12:31b (ESV)
There’s nothing I desire more than to
follow Jesus’ calling on my life. Yet
I’ve often felt as if the pathway I’ve been on has consisted of disconnected
stops and starts, of dead ends and detours.
I believed that somehow, I had missed what Paul called “a still more
excellent way.”
The career path out of college ended for
me as full-time parenthood began. After
the children went to school, I wasn’t sure continuing in the same field was
right for me, and I floundered through a long season of trial and error. While I found many of my duties interesting,
I struggled to see how my gifts were being used for God’s glory and none of it
came across as special, sacred, or a predestined calling.
To better understand my place in
God’s kingdom, I often studied scripture on spiritual gifts. In fact, the entirety of 1 Corinthians 12,
speaks of spiritual gifts and valuing every member of the body of Christ. Yet, what part did I play in the church? Where was my more excellent way?
More than a decade had slipped by
without a clear answer. I’d been
knocking on the same door for so many years and was wearied by the
question. I was tired of praying and
sick of seeking. And so, I surrendered
the search.
By this time, studying the Bible was my
morning ritual. After so many years of
the daily dig in scripture, I’d become quite experienced in it. I’d read, research, contemplate and write out
the fascinating things found in God’s word.
And occasionally I’d share my findings too.
So when I found myself reading 1
Corinthians 12:31 again, I decided to look up the word way, and was
surprised by what I discovered.
According to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, this specific use of this term was
a metaphor “denoting a manner of thinking, feeling, or deciding.”
When the Apostle Paul was instructing
the citizens of Corinth on a more excellent way of life, he was speaking to
their hearts rather than a direct path of action. And he was speaking to me today as well. While I was hunting down the best job fit,
Jesus (through Paul) was saying, “Hey, why are you striving so hard? Love is the excellent way!”
Friend, if you’re struggling to see
how your daily grind is blessing others or wondering if you’re on the right
path to your calling, pause and take a breath.
Find a moment to be still and ask yourself, in what manner am I
thinking, am I feeling, or decision making?
Is it love that motivates me? The
answer to these questions will direct you on Love’s more excellent way of
living.
Author
Bio:
Sharon has been writing and teaching biblically based curriculum, Bible studies, and devotionals since 2007.
She has
had the unique position of writing curriculum and teaching for two private,
Christ-based, residential recovery programs. Both programs primarily served
women in the homeless community.
Sharon has
traveled multiple times to Kenya, serving on medical teams and teaching in the
rural Maasai communities. She’s been privileged to speak in Leadership camps intended
on encouraging and empowering the impoverished, underprivileged, and often
abused young women.
Within
these ministries, Sharon has witnessed the transformative power of loving words
spoken to the broken-hearted. Sharing God’s love and witnessing its
transformative power has become her passion.
Sharon and
her husband, divide their time between Oregon and Hawaii. They have two grown
children.
Currently,
Sharon is encouraging others via her inspirational blog, but prefers sharing
face to face. Additionally, she is working towards a degree in Ministry.
~*~
Connect
with Sharon:
Website: Sharonmusgrove.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Sharon-Musgrove-Untethered-102208978041060
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonmusgrove_untethered/
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