Judges 1-4 [The Message]

After Moses, Caleb, and Joshua had passed, God raised up men and women to lead Israel until the kings took prominence. These were gifted leaders who were no doubt born with latent leadership, strong personalities, and gifts that separated them from everyone else. It’s my conviction that theses qualities were resident inside them from birth, just like oil in the ground. You can’t just wish there’s oil under the surface. It must already be there. Just drill for it.

These gifts can be used for God or used for self. Elvis had a big gift but used it for his selfish purposes. He lived to regret it and probably spent his later years trying to right his wrongs. One story relates that he told Gospel music legend Dottie Rambo of his regrets and encouraged her to keep on track with God, using her music gift to serve Him. Billy Graham was a country farm boy that God raised up to touch the world.

Parents who raise a gifted child have a special responsibility to cultivate them for God’s purposes.