18. Gifts…
God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.
1 Peter 4:10
I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Jesus Christ… Now you have every ‘spiritual’ gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:4, 7
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all… A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other… It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.
1 Corinthians 12:4, 7, 11
I love to receive gifts, especially ones that someone has thoughtfully chosen just for me, knowing it is just what I want or need in that moment. It could be a word of encouragement, a bunch of flowers, or just a smile.
The Holy Spirit has a bucketful of gifts that he desires to give to us. In that bucket is the special set of gifts exactly made for you and me – unique, tailored.
As we prepare ourselves for serving God and others, we need to identify these gifts so that we can serve using them to their full. The purpose of our gifts is clear: they are for helping others, not for our own edification.
Finding out what your gifts are can be difficult and there are courses and books designed to help you through the Word of God to discover your unique gifts. However, I don’t think we need to make it hard for ourselves. This is not an intellectual exercise, but one of the heart and soul. Start with God, the bestower of your gifts. Ask him to reveal to you the gifts he has given you.
Consider those things you are drawn to. Are you a natural teacher? Do you love to invite people into your home? Does your heart ache when you see someone hurting? Your gifts will usually lie in the areas you are drawn to.
Equally you can learn a lot about your gifts by looking at what you are not drawn to – I struggle with sharing the gospel with others – it doesn’t come easily, and I am not drawn to evangelistic situations. I understand that we are all called to share the good news about Jesus, but I also know that the gift of evangelism is not mine. Ask your family and friends what they see as your gifts and explore these.
What are your drivers, your passions? For me it has always been social justice and ensuring people have the opportunities they need for success. So, some of my gifts are generosity, encouragement, and teaching. These have guided me in my choice of career over the years and how I serve within the church.
You could do a survey or test online to help you. There are courses on offer and plenty of books to read about God’s gifts. Coupled with prayer and the advice of others, as well as your own leanings, these may help you find your gifts.
When we operate in our gifts, we are more effective, more in line with who God intends us to be. As you seek your purposes in God, consider how God has gifted you. Explore your gifts and how they will help you serve others.
Prayer: Lord, continue to lead us into our unique gift sets through your Holy Spirit. Give us the courage to stand up and use those gifts to serve you and mankind.
Amen
Action: If you haven’t spent time discovering your gifts start with taking a look at 1st Corinthians chapter 12 and then (if you have the Bible on your phone) do a search for the word gift through the New Testament to find out what God has to say.
Journal your thoughts:
