Contemplative Bible Reading

Daniel 1:17 (New Living Translation)

God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.

God gives us things. God gives us abilities. Sometimes, as in this verse, God gives us an unusual aptitude. The dictionary calls this, “a natural ability to do something.” Funny how nature does this stuff without God, but let’s not digress too far.

God gave Daniel and his three Israelite friends the ability to understand every aspect of literature and wisdom. Not too good at physics or chemistry, but that wasn’t what these four young men needed at that time at that place. God had them excel where He needed them to excel. They were in the heart of a government bureaucracy of a wealthy country. Literature and wisdom were important; they were unusually talented, and others noticed.

What is my natural talent? What did God give me? And I guess the more important question is, how am I using what God gave me? How are we all doing with this?