Blessed to Be a Blessing

Sometimes people will say things like, "I am so dry spiritually. Nothing is really going on in my life. I don’t know what I need. Maybe I need to change churches, or maybe I need to read some new book. Or maybe I need some new experience spiritually."

My question for someone who is feeling that way is, When was the last time you shared your faith with someone? When was the last time you initiated a conversation with a nonbeliever?

When you open yourself up to be used by God, often you will find yourself being blessed as you bless others. Proverbs 11:25 says, "The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself."

I can think of occasions when I was exhausted, when I felt drained. And when I got up to preach, I started on almost empty, but I ended on full. As I gave out, I found that God gave to me. As I shared the Lord, He replenished me as well. God does not give you His power and His Word and His wisdom for you to hoard. You were blessed to be a blessing.

As Stephen gave out, as he addressed the Sanhedrin, he was filled with the Holy Spirit. He shared the gospel with them, and God gave him just the right words. This doesn’t mean we should not study God’s Word. We need a reservoir to draw from. But we can be assured the Lord will give us the right words to say in the right place. So fill your mind and your heart with the Word of God.

Stephen had prepared himself. And when the moment came, he spoke from his heart. God gave him the words, and God will give you the words as well.