Sometimes the rain we need comes through a severe storm.

I usually don't like strong storms and in many ways actually fear them. However, we've been going through a drought and need rain. I'm finding as I sit before a strong storm coming in that my desire for the rain it contains is outweighing my usual fear. I don't mind it coming through if it contains the rain we need.

Are we like that in our spiritual lives? If we find ourselves dry and stagnant and in need of refreshing, do we welcome the way in which the refreshing comes? Do we welcome it coming in a storm of life even if it's not what we would have chosen? Do we welcome and allow God to choose His way in this?

I want to be open to whatever God allows, and whatever way He chooses to perform the actions He deems necessary in my life to grow me in Him. I want to praise Him if that growth comes through regular seasons of rain, or if it comes after a dry spell through a strong storm. Both ways are His doing, both contain His work for my life. Will I welcome them both just the same?

I was reading today 1 Peter 4:14, “If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.” (NRSV) I can never honestly say that I have been “reviled” for the name of Christ. Indeed, I'm not sure I've even had so much as an insult thrown at me. Does that mean that the Spirit of God isn't resting on me? No. But it does mean that if or when this ever does happen, I can remember these words and remember the encouragement in them.

But what of the believers that have never read these words? They go about their day, and potentially have been insulted regularly for hours throughout their workplace. Some of them may come home without a job anymore. Some have been taunted at school. What if they had never read these words? Can you imagine the encouragement that they could receive after a hard day of taunts, to sit down and read that it was all because “the Spirit of God is resting on you?” That encouragement brings life, the life that comes from God alone. It is a spiritual life, and it is the living water that we drink, the water of encouragement and life that the Spirit gives. It is this river that then flows through us onto others. For the encouragement received from these words wouldn't stop with that believer, but he would then share them with his wife, child, or neighbor to also encourage them to stand strong through another day of torment, another day for our Lord.

“Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name.” 1 Pet. 4:16 NRSV

Reading through the parable of the talents this morning (Matt. 25:14-30) left me questioning, how do you expand what has been given to you? The man who hid the talent wasn't criticized necessarily for his attitude, but more for his lack of expansion. He had returned what had been given to him, but it seemed the master desired expansion of that gift. And he had the ability to do so - it says in verse 15 the talents were distributed "to each according to his ability." So I prayed about how to expand what I've been given.

The first thing is to acknowledge what I even have, if I know what that is. If I know it, I shouldn't hide it with a false humility. But what do I do with that?

Later, I read John 13:3-5. Jesus knew what He had been given; He had been given all things, and He knew who He was. So what did He do with what He had been given? Did He "lord" it over the disciples (as He had told them before not to do)? No, He instead took the lowest position and served. He poured water on them, and washed them. He dried them. He restored them.

As Christians we know who we are. Like Jesus, we know we belong to God and will return to Him when our days here are over. And, like Jesus, we know we have been given all things through Him. So, likewise, what should we do?

We should pour out ourselves, and what we have been given to others. As I read this I realized it answered my question from earlier, for as we in humility pour out that which we've been given, it will be caused to expand. And that pleases the Master, our Lord.