“It May Not Be As You Think” - Ahava Love Letter (Steve Martin)

               

                      “It May Not Be As You Think”

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-8) NASU)

Dear family of friends,

What picture comes to your mind when I write, “I have a nice dog.” If you were raised having a dog as a pet, you’d probably think of that particular breed, which would hopefully bring back good memories. Or if you didn’t have a pet, but the neighbors did, that picture of a dog might come to your mind. And I trust that was a good dog.

Did you know that there are at least 339 breeds of dogs in the world, according to the World Canine Organization, best known by its French title Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI)? At the time of this writing the FCI recognizes 339 breeds of dogs which are divided into 10 groups based upon the dog’s purpose or function or upon its appearance or size.

Notice too that these breeds are then divided into 10 groups, which can also have further diversity among then – in color, size, personality, and more. Not one animal has been created exactly the same.

Now let’s consider humankind. (In no way am I comparing humans to dogs, nor am I making any evolution connection here. Straight forward, I believe God created man in His own image, and we didn’t evolve from a glob or an ape.) But we each too have many unique features also, as realized among people groups, both for men and women. That is obvious. And a great thing!

In going further with this, what do you think of when I write the word “teacher”? Growing up we each experienced good school teachers, bad ones, and all types in between. We have mental impressions of what a teacher is, and what they are expected to do. And your concept of a teacher may be different than what Daniel, Logan, or Dylan may think. A lot may depend upon what your experiences in connection with a teacher were like growing up, or even now.

Going deeper still, what comes to mind when I write, “They are a teacher in the church.” Do you think of someone reading aloud the Bible, verse by verse from the pulpit, and then explaining what he or she thinks it says? Do you picture a favorite Sunday school teacher, telling a story based on a biblical figure? Or do you remember the one who helped you understand a personal situation in your life, to apply a foundational truth and principle to a concern you had?

I believe each of these persons can be viewed as a teacher. Each is giving out of the unique gifting that the Lord has given to them, for the good of the Body of Christ. All may possess a difference in their thought content and delivery, but at the same time are imparting a portion of His Word in their way, based on their personality and understanding.

Sometimes we tend to categorize someone, or something, into a pre-determined concept or “box” we already have in our mind. In doing so, we can limit what we receive from them, or how they are allowed to minister to us. If we look at each gifting (person) the same way, with the same expected delivery, we can miss the full impact of what the Lord has for us. If something is brought to us in a way that we are not accustomed to, or consider the norm, we may be rejecting the very gift the Lord is trying to give to us; be it from a person or even a current move of the Holy Spirit.

Personally, I missed it years ago when I was told prophetically that I was a teacher in the Body of Christ. My image of a “teacher” at that time was of one who stood before a group and expounded on the Scriptures, chapter by chapter. I knew I wasn’t that, and didn’t believe that I ever would be either. And so I categorically rejected that word over and over again, given at various times by several people to me.

What I failed to realize, over this period of a decade or more, was that His expression in gifts given comes through in various ways, through various people. Because the Lord is so vast in His creative giftings He gives to us, one expression of His teaching gift that I was given can come through even in a simple form, such as writing these letters to His people. Now that I can understand and have faith for, to share this teaching gift in my life. His love can now more fully flow through me in that way.

I hope you are open to receiving the many expressions of the Lord Yeshua’s giftings – both from others around you, and of those that you have been given within yourself to share. Once we realize and accept this, we can each appreciate even more His love for His people.

I truly appreciate how the Lord expresses Himself in so many ways. We serve an awesome God!

Ahava to my family of friends,

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People. Inc.

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Ahava Love Letter #103   “It May Not Be What You Think”   Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (01.26.14) Sunday at 7:00 pm in Charlotte, NC).

All previous editions of Ahava Love Letter can be found on this Blog, and our newest website: Ahava Love Letters