Recently God gave me a picture of a great big bucket of white paint. Then he told me, “stir up the gifts.” In this ‘vision’ I had a giant stir-stick, and began to stir up the paint to get it ready for use. When paint sits too long the color sinks to the bottom of the pail, so you’ve really got to scrape it and stir it well to get all of the color incorporated throughout the paint.
As I stirred, God began showing me the gifts that he has placed inside of people as the beautiful colors at the bottom of the bucket. Yellow. Blue. Sparkles. Swirls. Pink. All sorts of beautiful gifts, all in unique combinations, tints, hues, and shades. But so many people were just dipping the brush into the top layer of dull, white paint; trying to bring God glory only accessing the surface of what he provided. Maybe there was a hint of what was at the bottom, seeping to the top layer, but the fullness of what was intended was not getting onto that brush.
You may have an idea of the gifts God has placed in you, but have never really experienced what it is like to serve him with those gifts. Maybe you don’t know what is at the bottom of your ‘paint bucket’. Begin to stir!! Stir by spending time in worship. Stir by studying God’s Word. Stir by connecting to the body of Christ. Stir by using what God has placed inside of you to serve, and show God’s love to those around you!
The beautiful part of the picture was that as the paint was stirred all the colors that were at the bottom of that can did not just mix into icky brown. Each gift, each color, was distinct and beautiful, but was able to come to the surface, with all of the other colors, in a beautiful mixture to glorify God, painting this world with his love, in each persons unique way.
Stir up your gifts – the world needs what is inside of you!
It takes faith to begin to stir – trust that God has placed good and perfect gifts inside of you!
Your gifts will not be like others. You have a unique combination and expression of what God has put in you!
God’s gift and call are irrevocable – What he has placed in you is yours to steward, and use well.
It is up to YOU to stir up your gifts! It is not the job of your spouse, kids, church, or pastor. It is up to you to be a faithful, good steward of what God has entrusted you with!
Paul encouraged Timothy to,
[13] Stay at your post reading Scripture, giving counsel, teaching. [14] And that special gift of ministry you were given when the leaders of the church laid hands on you and prayed – keep that dusted off and in use. 1 Timothy 4:13-14 The Message Translation
Paul was telling Timothy to be careful, not careless, with what God had placed inside of him. We also, must be sure to stay stirred up and dusted off to be the beautiful display of God’s nature that he meant for you and me to be.
Well, what are you waiting for!? Let’s get stirring! I can’t wait to see your beautiful gifts coming the the surface of your life! Let’s paint this world with all the wonder, beauty and glory that God has given us!
