Midweek Message from the Mount – May 16, 2012

⁷ But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. ⁸ This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.”  (Ephesians 4:7,8)

 

Tomorrow we celebrate the festival of the Ascension of our Lord.  His work was completed, what he came to do was accomplished, it was time for the Son to return to the Father.  He left this earth, but he did not leave us alone!  “Surely I am with you always to the very end of the age,” he assures us (Matt. 28:20).  Jesus promises that the Father would “give you another Counselor to be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth . . . you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you” (Jn 14:16,17). This Counselor comes to us freely and in full measure through Word and Sacrament. He has certainly not left us alone! 

And he has left us with something to do too.  “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.”  Our spiritual enemies have been defeated by Christ, and now he has given us gifts to serve him.  “To each one us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

In addition to the saving grace we have received through Christ’s life, death and resurrection, we each have received gifts of grace that we are not only encouraged to use, but out of response to his love, expected to use.  He has given them to you to use for the benefit of others.  Jesus is gone, but he has chosen to continue his work through you and through the gifts he has given you, so that through your life others may see him.

What are the gifts Christ has apportioned to you?  What are the gifts that he has given you so that he might work through you?  Do you have the gift of teaching?  Of encouragement?  Of working with your hands?  Of prayer?  Of music?  Of leadership?  Of serving?  You have been given gifts, there’s no doubt in that.  The question is, are you using them as he intends for you to, to give him glory?

Jesus is gone, but his Holy Spirit dwells within you through faith and Jesus is with you through Word and Sacrament.  And Jesus now extends his work through you and the gifts he has apportioned to you.  Take time to prayerfully consider: how will you carry out the work that he has given you to do with the gifts he has given you?

 

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, we praise and thank you for completely saving us through your life and death, so that we are yours only by grace and not by our works.  But you have given us work to do and you have given each one of us different gifts to serve you and each other.  Help us to recognize these gifts and to use them to the glory of your name, so that others might see you through us.  Amen.