Gifting and Character

Brea and family friend Aunt Leanna stayed up all night baking cupcakes for the election.  Brea, my sister who is currently enrolled in cosmetology school, was running for class president.  She was nervously excited.  She believed she had the support she needed to win.  

Alas, Brea lost the election by a couple votes.  She was certain she lost because a few of her friends were absent on voting day.

I could hear the disappointment in her voice.  Brea said that after she found out she lost, she sulked for the rest of the day.  She did not engage with her classmates and pretended not to care about the result. (As her sister I know this aspect of Brea all too well lol!)    I told my sister that it's possible she did not win because there is still some character development to be accomplished.  I said, "As a leader, you cannot disengage when something doesn't turn out the way you want it to."

Since then, I have been meditating on the concept of spiritual promotion and character development.  The Bible asks us to earnestly seek spiritual gifts.   Some of us do.  And when the gift does not come when or how we imagine, we determine that we're just not seeking hard enough.  The delay may not be due to a lack of earnest desire; in fact, we are more than likely right on target to receive the gift in the manner and time that God ordains.  But before God bestows the gift, he wants to ensure we have the character to utilize it for kingdom building. 

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The Lord told Jonah to travel to Nineveh and implore its citizens to repent.  We all know that Jonah tried to run away from the commission and ended up in the belly of a whale.   There's more to the story though.   After Jonah arrived in Nineveh and delivered God's wake up call, the people did exactly as God instructed them to do. They repented!  Jonah 4:10 reads, "When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened."

The people heeded Jonah's message from the Lord.  You would think the prophet would be pleased.  Instead Jonah caught an attitude.  The Bible says, "Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry."  Jonah says that he initially fled because he knew God was gracious and compassionate and would not bring the wrath he forewarned. 

In that last chapter of the book of Jonah I saw it.  I saw the misalignment of gifting and character.  A prophet whose character matched his level of gifting would have accepted the repentance of the Ninevites as a kingdom win.  He would have prostrated himself before the Lord, knowing he had been used by him to perform a great work.  He would have worshiped God, for he had shown himself to be exactly as "gracious and compassionate" as Jonah knew him to be.   

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I heard a quote recently - "Gifts can build a ministry quickly, but poor character can destroy it  just as fast."  I have viewed trials and missteps in my journey as roadblocks to where God wants to take me.  I am putting on a new perspective today.  My stumbles have been moments of character building.  He has developed resilience, patience, faithfulness, and humility in me.  (And believe me, the work is not done!)   As God has shaved off unsightly features, I am able to see more.  I have deeper prophetic insights.  I even praise God without realizing it lol.  Just yesterday I was singing around the house; my youngest sister remarked, "Do you have to sing about God all the time?"  Whoops!  Didn't know I did... and yes, yes I do!

Lord, bring the work you have started in me to completion.  I pray that my character will not hinder the fulfillment of your promises.  Continue to mold me, oh Potter, and purify me by your statutes. Thank you for showing me good character, as demonstrated by Jesus.  I love you and look forward to the day I will stand blameless before your throne.  In Jesus' name... Amen!

Refreshment for Today