Owen: spiritual abilities

Thursday, December 11, 2014
Meditation:
    Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.
    —1 Timothy 4:13-15 (NIV)
Quotation:
    I do not know a warning that I judge more necessary to be given to those who are called this day, than to charge them not to trade too much with their natural gifts, and abilities, and learning. These are talents in their kind; but it is the Spirit must manage all that learning they have, or it will prejudice them, and you also. I have known some good men have been so addicted to their study, that they have thought the last day of the week sufficient to prepare for their ministry, though they employ all the rest of the week in other studies. But your business is to trade with your spiritual abilities...
    A man may preach a very good sermon, who is otherwise himself; but he will never make a good minister of Jesus Christ, whose heart and mind [are] not always in the work. Spiritual gifts will require continual ruminating on the things of the Gospel in our minds.
    ... John Owen (1616-1683), An Ordination Sermon (Sermon IV) [1678], in Works of John Owen, v. IX, New York: R. Carter, 1851, pp. 448, 451 (see the book)
    See also Ps. 19:14; 119:11; Matt. 25:14-30; Rom. 12:4-8; Eph. 4:8-13; 1 Tim. 4:13-15
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, I pray for my ministers, that they should devote themselves to the Gospel. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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