After months of anticipation, Freshmen Orientation finally arrived. I unpacked my bags and squirreled away my personal belongings. Marilyn’s senior picture and a tiny box of memorabilia sat on the shelf above the laminated counter top that would serve as a common desk for me and my roommate, an upperclassman who wouldn’t arrive for another week.
With a feigned air of independence, I ventured toward the sounds of live music and laughter drifting up the stairwell. I slid my hand along the antique, oiled mahogany handrails, and imagined the thousands of anxious students who had walked these sacred halls since the early 1800’s. I was keenly aware of my good fortune and thrilled by the prospect of unlimited adventure that lay ahead of me.
The stairwell wound down past the main floor to the basement and deposited me in the Snack Bar. Restaurant booths lined three walls covered with dark paneling pasted with random concert posters—most were ancient history, and all testified that the decorating budget was lower than the yellowed, acoustic ceiling. Loud conversations, the clatter of dishes, and the squawk of chair legs against cracking asbestos tile harmonized to create a welcomed symphony for this lonesome eighteen year old. It felt like home.
A young man bounced up and down on a piano bench in the far corner, slapping both feet in time as he hammered out a Southern Gospel tune in classic boogie-woogie style—a style borrowed from bar rooms and adapted by Southern Gospel Quartets during the 1950’s. Singing evangelists like Jimmie Swaggart, who played piano with his cousins Jerry Lee Lewis (Goodness, Gracious… Great Balls of Fire!) and Mickey Gilley, rocked many sanctuaries during the second half of the Twentieth Century. Historically, many of the revered hymns were simply bar room melodies refitted with sanctified messages—Amazing Grace being perhaps one of the most notable.
The young man pounding the keys was Mike Osborne. The power that flowed through his hands blew me away! After five years of piano lessons I could only dream of playing like Mike. When I asked how long he had studied piano, he shrugged and said, “Umm, not quite a year now” without missing a note. I laughed nervously, a freshman determined not to be snookered by his obvious sarcasm. He sensed my incredulity, stopped playing and said, “No, seriously man, I didn’t know I could play until a few months ago! I gave my life to Christ a year ago and then one day, I just sat down and began to pick out the tunes that were playing in my head. And before I knew it, I was playing like this.”
Mike is an anomaly—a rare exception, a gifted musician who had no idea this gift was tucked inside. Isn’t that incredible? Have you ever found that some things just come naturally? Not everyone is as fortunate as Mike but I believe each of us is gifted. And when we present our gift to the Giver of Gifts, we experience His power and His pleasure in surprising ways.
Lord, I want to glorify You by the things I do. As I use my abilities for Your sake, please accept them as my gift to You—knowing full well they are actually Your gift through me. Amen.
Day One: Read Romans 12:6-8
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. (7) If it is serving… serve; if it is teaching…teach; (8) if it is encouraging… encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others… give generously; if it is leadership… do it cheerfully.”
- Do you know what your “gifts” are?
- If you’re not sure what your gifts are, what would you guess they might be?
- According to these verses, how are we to use our gifts?
- What do you think it means to “let him use it in proportion to his faith”?
Day Two: Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-5
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. (5) There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.”
- What do you think some of the “different kinds of gifts” might be?
- This verse makes it clear there are multiple gifts but only one ________________________.
- What do you think might be the difference between a gift and a service?
- Two personages of the Trinity are mentioned in these verses, who are they?
Day Three: 1 Corinthians 1:4 and 7
“I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts He has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. (7) Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.”
- Who is the Giver of Gifts according to verse 4?
- Why do you think Paul equates receiving God’s gift with belonging to Christ Jesus?
- What more do we need as we wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed?
- Which personages of the Trinity are mentioned in these verses?
Day Four: Read Luke 11:13
“So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.”
- We are referred to as “sinful people” in this verse. Who are we being compared to?
- Consider your heart as you give gifts to your children. Do you believe God enjoys it also?
- In this verse, what is our relation to God?
- In this verse, what is the ultimate gift the Father has given to His children?
Father in Heaven, I am so grateful for Your generous gifts to me. Thank You for Your Son, my Savior. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who gives us every good gift to accomplish every good work here on earth. I desire to please You through my gifts. Amen.