Freely Speaking Audio Devotion

Welcome to Freely Speaking, an OHSOFREE devotional ministry where we share our hearts and trust God for transformation.

Today, Sharon Gomez encourages us to exercise kindness through our God-given gifts.

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:12 NIV).

Ever since I was a little girl, I loved animals. I collected every kind of animal figurine and played with Bryer horses instead of Barbies.  

When I became an empty nester, I was excited to rekindle my God-given passion for animals and began pursuing service opportunities involving animal-assisted therapy. 

My 4-year-old Golden Retriever and I have been a certified therapy dog team for over a year. Through the journey of dog training and volunteer visits, I have made my closest friendships. I’ve experienced the fullness of giving and receiving kindness through our shared spiritual gifts. 

The context of today's scripture is established in Romans 12:4.Paul writes, "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them." 

Paul's words become evident when I reflect on a volunteer outing. I see my extroverted friend chatting with other volunteers and networking for future events. 

My high-energy friend, who is comfortable with dog training, helps us navigate over-excited dogs and overzealous people. And there’s me, the introvert who has the one-on-one conversation with the person who needs a listening ear. 

When we use our gifts to do God's work, kindness becomes as effortless as breathing because we are serving the way our Creator intended; with each other and for each other expectinglittle or nothing in return. 

Whether our friendships are born from a shared interest, a common circumstance, or through acts of service, kindness becomes a natural byproduct of these authentic connections. 

I challenge you to take time today to consider how kindness has intertwined within your friendships and thank God for the paths that led you to them. 

Thank you for joining us today. If you would like to learn more about OhSoFree Ministries, please visit us at www.ohsofreeministries.com/