Read Ephesians 4: 7-8, 11-13
It happens to the best of us: in the midst of a great experience, we begin pondering what’s next.
Where will we go? What will we do? What will happen?
When all is said and done, your bags are unpacked and your experience is over, what’s next? “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…”
God has gifted each of us in our own way. When we put together our talents, our abilities, our passions and our gifts, we each will live out God’s call for our life in our own way.
- Apostles: one who is “sent out,” likes starting new initiatives
- Prophets: listens to and hears God, has a clear vision of what is happening
- Evangelists: brings Good News, shares life with non-Christians, highly relational
- Pastors: cares for people, comforts and encourages in times of need
- Teachers: good at explaining truth and sharing knowledge.
When you return from this experience, God will continue to mold and shape your path. From this moment, we want to invite you to prepare for this.
Keep an eye out for what God wants to teach you. Make notes of your highlights from the experience. Ask yourself throughout, “What is God teaching me?”
Reflection
Spend some time reading about each of these gifts. Which one do you think God might have given you? Ask a trusted friend for their perspective.
How have you used this gift in the past? How might you use it through this experience?
Prayer
“God, open my eyes so I may see what you want me to see through this experience. Open my ears so I may hear a story which will show me how you are at work.
Open my heart so my compassion may grow toward people who are different from me. Open my hands so I may serve with the gifts you have given to me.
Open my mind so I may understand how your ways are higher than our ways. Open my future so I may follow where you are leading.
God, I trust you and will follow where you lead me.”