June 22

“…so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.”  

—ROMANS 12:5-6

It cannot be said of the Apostle Paul that after meeting Christ on the road to Damascus he sat around passively, wondering how God was going to gift him. While still in Damascus, he began preaching in synagogues, claiming Jesus as the Son of God. When he returned to Jerusalem, despite his reputation as a fierce persecutor of Christians, he continued speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.  

Paul took immediate action, getting involved at once and in the process, his God-given gifts were revealed to others. Spiritual gifts are those abilities God gives His people to enable His church to fulfill its task. It’s the same task for us as it was for Paul… to reach our world for Jesus. We accomplish that by bringing our lives under the authority of Jesus, and corporately, through the body of Christ, work towards fulfilling His will and purpose on earth.

The New Testament lists 22 spiritual gifts in all, but it is not a comprehensive list. There are other spiritual gifts in widespread use today, such as music, technology and counseling, which are recognized as an important and valid gifting from God for His church. When Paul says, “Eagerly desire spiritual gifts,” the underlying meaning is to eagerly desire to serve others. We cannot live the Christian life effectively unless we realize that our interest is for other people

We are to actively seek our gifting by getting busy and involved. Whether it’s on the front lines or behind the scenes, it’s doing humbly and faithfully whatever it is God has given us to do. In the process, we’ll discover where God has gifted us, because we’ll feel energized and motivated, and encouraged by discerning men and women of God who begin to recognize God’s enabling in us. Even if we don’t feel adequate for a specific task, the Holy Spirit is our empowering, and spiritual gifts are often discovered by taking risks.

God has gifted every Christian, but no one has the right to insist on any particular gift. God gives as He wills, and we are all members of the same body with different roles to fill, each one necessary for the Church of Jesus Christ to function well. It is as we engage and serve that we mature in our faith. As Paul said to Timothy, we “fan into flames the gift of God which is in you” (2 Timothy 1:6).

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for the gift You have given me. I pray that it is continually fanned into flames for the benefit of others, and that they recognize it is your Spirit at work.  

TO REFLECT UPON: In what way(s) has God gifted me and am I using it to its fullest potential?