According to Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4:1, we all have gifts
and talents God has given us to use for his Kingdom and purpose. Some are called to teach, preach, oversee,
give, encourage, pray or missions. As servants of Christ, we are called to do
something. I enjoy encouraging other
women to have a deeper prayer life, read and meditate on the Word of God and
make sure the calling of their faith.
Tommy is called to give. He is
one of the most generous men I have ever met and taught me to give more to
those in need. I can see in my children
different strengths each of them have.
Nicholas has an excellent imagination and loves to play with the little
children; he would be an amazing Youth Pastor.
Maddie has been gifted with intelligence, prayer and God’s spirit to
love. She can memorize anything, pray
over everyone and we encourage her to pray about the mission field where she
can help many women in need. Matthew is
a talker! Tommy and I pray over him to use his unbridled energy, desire to
communicate and his love for others to spread the Gospel of Christ as a pastor,
missionary or evangelist.
I know my gifts and talents under
the boundaries God has set for me, I desire to thrive and use those gifts to my
utmost ability. I have learned not to overstep my boundaries by testing God,
jumping into something that I am not qualified for or am gifted in. I love to
sing, but I can never imagine stepping on stage with a microphone and leading
worship. I enjoy our pastor’s preaching
and teaching, thankful for the countless hours of study, but I would never step
into a pulpit and teach every Sunday service.
First, I was not called for that position, although I do love teaching
women and studying God’s word; second, I would not assume to think it was
acceptable with God.
The Scriptures describe Miriam as a
prophetess. She led the women in song
and dance, exhorting and encouraging them along the way in the wilderness. God used this family of siblings in an
insurmountable way, but Miriam over stepped her boundaries and maybe assumed
too much. I know God used Miriam for her
gifts and talents, I know he used her to give a word to those in need, and I
know Miriam loved her brothers. For
remember, it was she who followed the basket to watch and see what would be the
fate of her sibling. It was Miriam who
so wisely asked the Princess if she could bring a Hebrew mother to feed the
baby. God had given this young woman a
gifted spirit of wit, thinking on her feet, of praise and leadership.
Watching her brothers lead, Miriam
I am sure walked beside them and spoke the word of the Lord to those given unto
her. She was witness to amazing acts of
God, praised and worshiped El Shaddai, but was also witness to death and
destruction for those who were disobedient.
Now, I am not sure if Miriam imagined her falling to disobedience or
assumed she was in the same “friendship” with God as Moses. But she learned a valuable lesson when she
spoke against her brother for marrying a Cushite woman. “Miriam and Aaron began
to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a
Cushite. “Has the Lord spoken only
through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the Lord
heard this (Exodus 12:1-2).
The Lord’s anger burned against
both Aaron and Miriam, but only she was casted outside the camp for seven days
with leprosy. This tells me a few things
about the Woman of God. She may have
been the instigator who brought this ungodly union to Aarons’ attention and
encouraged him to remember God speaks to them as well. Her heart was different than Aaron’s, for
only she was thrown out for seven days with white covered skin. Leprosy in the bible represents sin and
Miriam sinned against the Lord. I assume
Aaron’s heart was truthfully not aggressive towards Moses, for only Miriam felt
the humility of out cast (Exodus 12:
4-15).
We all have sinned and fallen short
of the glory of God. I do know it seems
more tragic when a prominent Christian figure falls into disgrace, for we can
quickly cast judgment or wonder how could this happen. I am sure the Israelites looked on and
several notions crossed their mind. One
could have been, if a leader of God’s people could be punished with leprosy and
sat outside the camp for a week, then obedience is better than our pride. Maybe
the second thought, God is no respecter of persons. We are not to mistake his kindness, mercy and
grace for weakness.
I encourage you to pray for those
in leadership along with those in your congregation. Temptations are real for all Christians. Whether it be a spirit of pride, lust,
covetness, unforgiveness, theft, or anger we all need to lift each other in
prayer. Miriam assumed too much with her
pride and was painfully reminded, being put cast out, but my sister, she also
lacked compassion for this Cushite woman.
Moses can point to our Savior in so many ways. Marrying this Cushite woman is no different,
for Christ came to the Gentiles, all nations and all those who call upon his
name (Romans 10:9). Miriam did not
have a heart for this woman and we need to be reminded as Christians to open
our arms to all people, not just the ones we seem fit to accept.
A family member of mine told me
about a situation in her church. The
pastor disguised himself as a homeless man.
I mean he put dirt on his face; hair was a mess, dressed in filthy
clothes and smelled as if he had been on the streets for a while. When attempted to walk through the church’s
doors on Sunday morning, he was asked to leave.
Can you imagine? If we do not
open our arms to those in need, then who is the church for? Is it not for the
sick and those who need a doctor? (Mark 2:17, Luke 5:31) This Cushite woman can represent those outside the family of God and
Miriam can represent the Pharisees who thought themselves to grand to associate
with those far less than themselves.
Remember, we are called not to play
favoritism for God is no respecter of persons.
We were all called,once in filthy rags, outsiders to the faith, but
Christ in his merciful love opened his arms and took us in, changing us to be
more like him. Miriam was used in a
powerful way for God. Her testimony of
strength in tremendous testing and trials, highs and lows from slavery to
freedom, but overstepping her boundaries and assuming too much with God’s
provisions cost her the promised land. I
pray for her strength and to love my siblings as she loved her brothers, but
also to never take God’s love for granted and to open my heart to all of God’s
children.
Let us pray and
CONFESS the Word of God:
Adonai,
Thank you
for the gift of Jesus Christ. Thank you
I can praise your name as Miriam did with song and dancing, lifting Yeshua on
high! I am thankful for the gifts and talents you have given. Help me to use them for your kingdom and
glory. If I have not given you my all,
show me where else I can serve, teach, give, encourage, pray or go to encourage
others in their walk with Christ.
My heart’s
desire is to serve you (Psalm 37:4). I
pray to never overstep the boundaries you have set forth for me. I pray to never lust, covet or desire what
another sister of mine has; for her gifts maybe different than mine. I pray to mimic John the Baptist, “A man can
only receive what is given to him from Heaven.” (John 3:27). Help me to think
on what I can do for you and not on what I am unable to do for you. I pray to appreciate all of the “body parts”
in the church where you have creatively given each person different abilities
to spread the Gospel. Help me to keep my
eyes on things above seated at the right hand of the Father (Colossians 3:2). I pray to fan the flame you bestowed on me,
where I am right now, but determined to go deeper in the knowledge of you.
Show me how
to love all of your people, even those who are different than me. I pray to never be lukewarm or forget how to
open my arms to those less fortunate.
You are no respecter of persons, help me to not judge someone quickly (Acts 10:34-35). I pray to show no favoritism (James 2:1) and love all those you have
placed in my care and around me. In the name of Jesus of Nazareth I pray, Amen.
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