Called to Stand Out and Maximize Our Gifts

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Our Divine Distinctiveness

As followers of Christ, we are called to be different, to stand out, and not conform to the world. We are called to be a city on a hill, and be salt and light in the world ([1:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlxnu26WV2Y&t=60s)). This divine distinctiveness is not just about being different for the sake of it, but about reflecting the character and values of Christ in our daily lives.

1 Peter 2:9 - "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

Reflection: How can you live out your divine distinctiveness today? Can you think of one specific way you can be salt and light in your world today?

Day 2: Stewarding Our God-Given Talents

The parable of the talents in Matthew 25 illustrates the importance of stewarding the gifts and talents that God has given to each individual. It is our responsibility to develop and maximize these gifts for His purposes ([8:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlxnu26WV2Y&t=510s)). This stewardship is not just about using our talents, but about investing them in ways that honor God and bless others.

1 Corinthians 12:7 - "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."

Reflection: What is one talent or gift that God has given you? How can you invest this talent in a way that honors God and blesses others today?

Day 3: Cultivating Godly Relationships

Surrounding oneself with people who love God more than anything in the world is crucial. By being around people who are passionate about Jesus, individuals will be inspired and motivated to pursue God's will for their own lives ([15:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlxnu26WV2Y&t=915s)). These relationships are not just about mutual encouragement, but about spurring each other on towards love and good deeds.

Hebrews 10:24 - "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."

Reflection: Who are the people in your life who inspire you to pursue God's will? How can you cultivate deeper relationships with them?

Day 4: Balancing Prayer and Action

Both prayer and action are important in following God's will and making our lives count. We should pray like it depends on God, but also work like it depends on us ([22:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlxnu26WV2Y&t=1315s)). This balance is not just about praying or working, but about integrating prayer and action in our daily lives.

Colossians 4:2 - "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful."

Reflection: How can you integrate prayer and action in your life today? Can you think of one specific situation where you can pray like it depends on God and work like it depends on you?

Day 5: Setting and Pursuing Godly Goals

Setting goals and writing them down is important, as the weakest ink is better than the greatest memory. We should write down our goals for various aspects of our lives, such as marriage, finances, and relationship with God ([35:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlxnu26WV2Y&t=2105s)). These goals are not just about what we want to achieve, but about aligning our desires with God's will for our lives.

Proverbs 16:3 - "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."

Reflection: What is one godly goal you have for your life? How can you take a step towards achieving this goal today?

Sermon Summary

The sermon series "Called" focuses on the biblical teachings that followers of Christ are called to do. The pastor emphasizes the importance of standing out and not conforming to the world, as Jesus calls us to be a city on a hill and be salt and light in the world. The pastor uses the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 to illustrate the importance of stewarding the gifts and talents that God has given to each individual. He encourages the congregation to recognize that their capacity and potential are gifts from God, and it is their responsibility to develop and maximize them for His purposes.

The pastor also emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with people who love God more than anything in the world. He shares his personal experience of spending time with pastors who have big dreams and a strong faith, which challenges him to believe for more in his own church. The pastor encourages the congregation to join serving teams and life groups at the church in order to connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about following Jesus.

The pastor then discusses the importance of both prayer and action in following God's will and making our lives count. He encourages the congregation to pray like it depends on God, but also work like it depends on them. The pastor emphasizes the significance of daily habits in shaping our future and warns against drifting aimlessly. He also emphasizes the importance of seizing the moment and not wasting one's life, referring to the biblical story of Joshua, who led the Israelites into the Promised Land and overthrew six nations and 31 kings.

The pastor shares a personal experience that changed his life and ministry. He emphasizes the importance of setting goals and writing them down, as the weakest ink is better than the greatest memory. He encourages the congregation to write down their goals for various aspects of their lives, such as marriage, finances, and relationship with God. The pastor concludes by reminding them that change requires more than just wishing for things to be different, but actually doing things differently.

Key Takeaways

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Sermon Clips

"As followers of Christ, we have been called according to his purpose...we have been called to be different...we're supposed to stand out, be a city set on a hill that cannot be hid." #!!00:54!!#

"We are called to make our one life on this planet count...to be stewards over the talents or money entrusted to us, to invest and multiply it for the glory of the master." #!!02:05!!#

"You need to surround yourself with people that love God more than they love anything in this world... find some people who speak Faith." (source: #!!32:27!!#)

"We're going to pray like it depends on God and then we're going to get up and work like it depends on us because that's what God has called us to do." #!!21:42!!#

"Life is going to happen and it's going to either happen by default or design. If you let it happen by default, you ain't going to like how it turns out. It's going to have to happen by design." #!!22:17!!#

"You are going to need more than hope. Hope is amazing, but hope is not a strategy. You are going to have to embrace responsibility, make a plan, live with purpose, and change your daily habits." #!!22:47!!#

"Zig Ziggler once said that the weakest ink is better than the greatest memory...sometimes you got to write it down and you need to be able to see it in black and white." #!!24:24!!#

"If we're going to pursue God's dreams, if we're going to make life count, if we're not going to waste our lives, if we're going to do something great for the glory of God, there will come a moment that it will come down to this very simple reality - you're either going to trust what God said or you're not." #!!41:15!!#

"I'm not going to waste my life, I'm not going to piler away this moment. It's a moment in time and God, through your instructions, I'm going to maximize this moment." #!!45:57!!#

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