Hi ,

“Freely you have received; freely give." -Matthew 10:8.
 

 The blood of the Horseshoe Crab is blue. In fact, its blood is one of the most treasured resources on earth; valued at $60,000 a gallon because of the millions of lives it has saved. Because of this, each year the crabs are gathered, bled, and then released.

In its blood is a clotting agent, Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL), used to detect poisonous substances present in bacteria. Before LAL was discovered, in the 1970’s, there was no easy way of knowing whether a medical tool, or a vaccine was contaminated with bacteria like E. coli and salmonella.

The horseshoe crab lives its life not knowing the value of its blood. It doesn’t even know how valuable it is to itself. Similarly, God has given each of us talents and resources of great value. Are we aware of their value? As important as the crab’s blood is, it is only valuable to the crab… until it is taken from it. Then its value measured in lives saved.

Unlike the horseshoe crab whose blood is extracted against its will, God only accepts a gift from us if it is given freely. “Freely you have received; freely give,” says Jesus (Matthew 10:8).

In the Parable of the Talents, found in Matthew 25, three men were entrusted with a certain amount of money by their master. Some were given more, some less. Each was required to make the best use of what they were given. Two of the men did. One did not. In fact, the man who did not buried his talent in the ground, and so it was wasted on him. What gifts, what talents has God given you – compassion, understanding, organization, generosity, helpfulness, teaching, hospitality, patience, music, encouragement, or is it something else?

Whatever talent, or talents you possess, they are of value to you alone… until you offer them to God. Let’s not bury the gifts we’ve been given. Instead, in return, let’s freely put them to work for our Master. Even one talent in His hands is of eternal value, measured in souls saved.

(The above was written and kindly shared by Pastor Dave Moench)