Beautiful Life – Part 3
By Margaret D. Mitchell
Week of July 4, 2021
I am seeing God turn ashes to beauty in my life in every facet big and small as He brings us out of the Coronavirus cocoon. And it’s happening swiftly!
Oppressive weights have lifted. New doors have opened. New beginnings are manifesting. All as beauty.
Even some old things are made new…with more to come!
Are you experiencing this, too?
Recently, God showed me the Word “Distribute” in a Word-vision. He revealed to me that we have entered into a stage of “distribution.”
About a week later, I was reading 1 Corinthians 12 in the TPT version as part of a homework assignment from my new church. And there, I saw the Word “distribute” four times. So, I dug deeper.
According to Helps Word Study, “distribute” in 1 Corinthians 12 means to “apportion (assign), by the choice of a superior; to divide” spiritual gifts for the purpose of confirming the Word of God, expanding His Kingdom and establishing His righteousness—on earth (1 Cor 12:7 TPT study note).
1 Corinthians 12 verses 6 and 11 TPT say, "The same God distributes different kinds of miracles that accomplish different results through each believer’s gift and ministry as he energizes and activates them. Remember, it is the same Holy Spirit who distributes, activates, and operates these different gifts as he chooses for each believer."
So, we see here that to “distribute” is the first step in Holy Spirit’s empowerment process to accomplish His three-fold purpose of making beautiful Him known in the world in a variety of ways.
This brings us to another definition of the Word “distribute” in regards to the miracle Jesus did (after thanksgiving) in John 6:11, when He distributed the loaves and fishes to those who were seated.
In this verse, according to Strong’s (# 1239), the Word “distribute” means to divide, to offer, to give throughout a crowd, to hand over, to deliver over as to a successor.
Doesn’t this remind you of Jesus offering Himself up to be our greatest gift, as well as delivering His Word and Spirit to us to become His living, empowered successors?
Psalms 111:3 TPT says, "Everything he does is full of splendor and beauty! Each miracle demonstrates his eternal perfection."
Titus 2:14 TPT says, "He sacrificed himself for us that he might purchase our freedom from every lawless deed and to purify for himself a people who are his very own, passionate to do what is beautiful in his eyes."
So, the message is clear: our Lord is inviting us to be empowered as conduits of His miraculous provision to then go and do what He did and even greater exploits as we trust and obey Him.
1 Corinthians 12:31 TPT says, "…now I will show you a superior way to live that is beyond comparison!"
The Amplified Classic version expands this by commanding us to "…earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best gifts and graces (the higher gifts and the choicest graces). And yet I will show you a still more excellent way [one that is better by far and the highest of them all–love]."
Ironically, our Lord led me to this very scripture the morning before He led me to church, where I received my homework assignment.
God has an intentional plan to work against division as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:25 by setting us up to “look after…others with mutual concern.”
So, as we go to serve others, according to His leading, He will continue to take care of what concerns us and also reward us.
Holy Spirit is bringing us out of hibernation more empowered and setting is us on a new trajectory that leads to an explosive convergence—the manifestations of His big promises to us—the fruit of dreams come true.
Big ones.
Ones for which He has prepared us over time.
Not only will this happen for us but also for those He reaches through us by His Spirit.
Are you ready for His manifest miracles?
Ephesians 5:27 TPT reminds us "All that he does in us is designed to make us a mature church for his pleasure, until we become a source of praise to him—glorious and radiant, beautiful and holy, without fault or flaw."
So, no matter what’s going on in our lives, we can choose to move toward His beauty—His justice, honor and praise—and express it outwardly. Remaining in intimacy with Him is key.
We can experience His Glory-Presence and offer, activate and operate in miracles for Kingdom purposes as He leads—all by His Spirit and for His Glory.
Psalms 149:4 TPT says, "For he enjoys his faithful lovers. He adorns the humble with his beauty, and he loves to give them victory."
Jesus lives a victorious life that He extends to us and through us. So, His greatest beauty is found in the true life of victory-salvation He has offered to us. When we walk in it, we will experience a more beautiful reality. There is no greater adventure.
Colossians 4:12 TPT encourages us to "...grow and mature, standing complete and perfect in the beauty of God’s plan for your lives..."
1 Corinthians 13:13 TPT reminds us that " above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run."
Pray with me if you will…
Dear Lord,
Thank You for making us complete in Christ (Col 2:10). Thank You that we can lift up our “heads [in joy], because [suffering ends as]” our “redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28). Thank You for being our Spirit of Justice, who works on our behalf to bring beauty out of ashes (Isa 28). I invite you to equip and empower me in any way that delights You. Thank You for activating Your gifts in me and for operating them through me. Thank You for teaching us Your Word and ways (Ps 119:68, Eph 4:29, 2 Thes 2:17, Prov 10:29). Fill our hearts with your “beautiful intentions” (1 John 3:22). Here I am, Lord. Send me for Your glory. I trust in You.
In Jesus’ Mighty Name,
Amen.
Margaret D. Mitchell is the Founder of God's Love at Work, a marketplace outreach purposed to share God's greatest power source - the love of Christ.
Originally published Sunday, 04 July 2021.
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