I have always found it important to know what you must have in your toolbox. My real toolbox, and this is just for me, contains the number of a good friend who I can call when something breaks. Now, that may be a little stretch of the truth, but outside of a few screwdrivers and a measuring tape, tools and I do not mix well. When I was the Director of Sales, I had a list of things that my salespeople should always have handy. Some where the physical things that made the job easier. Being in the food business one of those was a measuring tape so that if somebody needed glasses, plates, or coffee filters figuring out the size was easy. Part of the salespersons toolbox also revolved around a skill set that they needed to carry. As a pastor I actually have a toolbox that I check each Saturday night. It is really a backpack, but I make sure I have cough drops, extra phone/tablet charger, some nine-volt batteries, and a variety of other things I have learned that when I don’t have there could be a problem. Part of any pastor’s toolbox of course must be the call that was placed on His life by the Lord. What about the Christian’s toolbox? What should be in there?
I think the tendency is often to instead of the things that can be in the toolbox, what is focused on is the things that should not be in the toolbox. Another thought on the toolbox is also often what other people are missing or should not be doing. The old adage is that Christians are more often known for what they are against, rather then what they are for. As for items in the Christian’s toolbox we can easily read through the listing of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. Also, Romans 12:6-8 is a listing of the things that can be in the toolbox of the Christian. I have personally always enjoyed being able to use the gift of exhortation. Seeing one of our Christian brothers or sisters built up in their faith is a boost to our own faith I always find.
As I prayed and pondered on God’s word for a direction for this devotion, I was reading 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. Are Christians, at times, maybe just a little devoid of love that others can see? I will answer that for myself only and say, “yes.” I know, it is hard to believe that at times even Pastor Tom does not come across as loving. Lord, I thank you for your forgiveness, please give me the loving heart that is in You. I like the way that Paul addresses the lack of love in some of the members in the church at Corinth. He uses the phrase three times of, “but do not have love” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NASB). What if for the week ahead we put love in our toolbox, and ask the Lord to present us everyday with a new situation, person, or place where we can show the love of Christ?