October 20

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.” —ROMANS 12:6

After Paul’s sight was restored in Damascus, it cannot be said of him that he sat around, hoping for some kind of spiritual gifting from God to suddenly pop up and help him. He took immediate action and began preaching in the synagogues. In 1 Corinthians 14:1, he tells us to “eagerly desire spiritual gifts.” 

Spiritual gifts are those skills and abilities God gives to His people to enable His church to fulfill its task. And the task is the same as it was for Paul – to reach our world for Christ. We first accomplish that by bringing our lives under the authority of Jesus, allowing Him to take our weaknesses as well as strengths, and corporately, through the body of Christ, work towards fulfilling His will and purpose on earth.

When Paul says, “Eagerly desire spiritual gifts,” the underlying meaning is to eagerly desire to serve others. We are to actively seek our gifts by becoming busy and getting involved. Whether it is on the front lines or behind the scenes, it is being there and doing humbly and faithfully whatever it is God has given us to do. In the process, we will discover where God has gifted us because we will feel energized and motivated by what we are doing, as well as encouraged by discerning men and women of God who begin to recognize God’s enabling in us. We need not feel intimidated or reluctant because the Holy Spirit is our empowering and spiritual gifts are often discovered by taking risks.

The New Testament lists 22 spiritual gifts in all; among them healing, prophecy and teaching, but it is not a comprehensive list. There are other spiritual gifts in widespread use today such as music, writing, technology and counselling that are recognized as an important and valid gifting from God for His church. Many of us also have natural gifts which God may prosper to further His agenda. The best time to be developing spiritual gifts is early in our Christian faith otherwise we risk picking up bad habits and perhaps become complacent, especially concerning activities we think do not involve us. 

We mature in our faith as we engage and serve. God has uniquely gifted every Christian but we do not have the right to insist on any particular gift. God gives as He wills and every role is needed in order for the church to function well. Paul said to Timothy, “I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God which is in you” (2 Timothy 1:6). We do this by actively getting involved and God takes care of the rest.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I am grateful for the spiritual gifting of many people and pray that your gifting of me will be used to its fullest potential in conjunction with others. 

TO REFLECT UPON: How has God gifted me and am I using that to the benefit of others?