God's Gifts
Posted in Daily Focus on Thursday, June 19, 2014
"As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Peter 4:10).
My son was sitting at his desk with a contemplative look on his face as he studied his lesson for school. With his Bible open to Romans 12, he was struggling with identifying his spiritual gift and how he might use it in Christian ministry. "Mom," he said. "I really don't know what gift God has given me. What do you think my spiritual gift is?"
"Well," I reflected, "I think one gift God has given you is the gift of service. I've seen how you love to help others both at church and at home. You never complain, and you seem to know what to do before someone even asks for help."
"Wow, you mean when I do that it's using my spiritual gift?" he asked.
"Yes," I replied, "you are using your gifts if you allow the Holy Spirit to show you when and where to help."
Every believer, including children, has at least one spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 12:7). Unfortunately, many Christians never identify their spiritual gifts and simply live life as a spectator rather than a participator. God desires his church to be active and growing with each believer playing an important part in its effective worship and work. Understanding your gifts, therefore, will help you find the best way to serve and eliminate frustrations over trying to do things like someone else. Not only will the church be strengthened and unified, but you'll also discover that spiritual gifts are really just Jesus working through your life as you carry on His ministry.
Do you know your spiritual gifts in the Lord? As you read Romans 12:3-9, ask God to reveal which gifts He wants to use through your life. Like my son, discover how much fun living the Christian life can be when you serve the Lord with the gifts He has given you!
Father, I want to glorify You with my life and discover the joy in serving You. Please, reveal those gifts You've given me and empower me with the Holy Spirit to use them for Your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Comments(6 comments)
JULIE S 06/18/2010 19:41:04
Hi,
In response to your devotional, I believe the spiritual gifts are actually spoken about in the book of Acts 1:8, Acts 2 and especially 1 Cor 12:1-13. Knowing how to serve is one type of gift (1 Cor 12: 4-6) but spiritual gifts are so much more.
I believe there are nine gifts of the spirit and 'the gift of the Holy Spirit' is received by faith and then activated by each individual by faith. Speaking in tongues can be evidence that someone has received the gift but is not always.
The nine gifts are:
1. healing
2. word of knowledge
3.word of wisdom
4. miracles
5. speaking in tongues
6. interpretation of tongues
6.faith
7. discernment
My husband, children and I have moved in these gifts for years and believe God gives them all to any and all believers who ask. Each one or more of the nine might be given to a person in a greater measure in one person or another. The headship gifts of Prophet, Evangelist, Teacher, Apostle and Pastor are a totally different thing altogether.
Julie, Australia
CARIN M 06/18/2011 07:25:56
In response to Julie I want to clarify that on the day of Pentecost the speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues was given in abundance for the understanding of one another's foreign languages. I have many times been able to hear foreign languages spoken in my native tongue of English. This is much different than the way many Pentecostal Christians refer to tongues. I of course want to clarify that I do not know in which way Julie is referring to tongues. I did though want to clarify the book of Acts.
CARIN M 06/18/2011 07:27:11
Thank you for the devotional. I am going to go and look up Romans now. I am interested in what it has to say.
CARIN M 06/18/2011 07:42:00
Romans 12:2 -9 is a beautiful passage about humbleness, and that each person is given gifts - according to God's grace - to use as a part of the body of Christ.
The gifts of: prophesy, serving/ministry, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership, & kindness.
Thank you for sharing these beautiful words of the Lord this morning. Indeed, Paul is speaking of various gifts that God gives by His grace so that we can each contribute to the body of Christ.
ASHLEY M 06/18/2011 15:13:51
I believe gifts of the Spirit are more than we make them out to be. GOD graciously gives each of us a gift (not necessarily a "ministry" gift) to carry out GOD's will for the church. They are for the edification of the chuch until we all come to a full understanding of who Christ is. Most important of all is the gift of love which has been poured out into all believers hearts through the Holy Spirit at the moment a person is born again. Love is the gift of GOD and something we all can walk in. Above all I believe love and unity in the church body is what is essential for us to be the church GOD has called us to be in Christ.
KATHY S 06/19/2012 07:46:31
To the Author;
What a wonderful devotional! Immediatley I thought of my son, and that he has the same gift as yours in the sense that my son has the gift of helping his Grandmother and I always, without complaint, always patient, kind and loving. It truly is a \"gift\" from God , just as my son is to me, and I\'m sure your son is to you.
Thank you for these Daily Devotionals. They truly start my day on the right track, give me inspiration and hope ! God Bless!