God has blessed me throughout my life; a good family, a wonderful wife, great friends, and so may experiences and blessings that give me joy in my heart. I am sure all of us have something to be grateful for in our lives. God also gives us special gifts through the Holy Spirit to help others and strengthen the church, giving glory to God. Using our gifts is a part of worship. You may not know what your spiritual gift is. My suggestion is to get involved in your church and serve. If one thing doesn’t work or doesn’t seem to fit, try another. God will lead you to the gifts He wants you to use when the time is right. I believe He may give us different gifts at different times to fulfill a need of a ministry He has for you. I have seen that in my life. When I was young, I tried helping with the youth group, then became a youth leader. That didn’t work out too well. Later on several other ministries came up and God gave me the gifts needed for my particular ministries. No matter what your gift is or if you know what it is, get involved with your church and serve. Let’s not be just a pew sitter but be active for God’s Kingdom.
Romans 12:1-13
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
Paul lists several gifts of the Holy Spirit, but I believe he list some but not all gifts. I think they are examples of some of the gifts that God gives. Not everyone has all the gifts, but most believers may have many of them to some measure. The purpose of the gifts is to lift each other up, help those in need, edify the church and glorify God. It is not for our own gain or show others our faith or salvation. The most important gift that each believer has is love. We are given these gifts to share God’s love to others.
1 Corinthians 12:27-13:3
Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
This post is more about why we are given spiritual gifts. The next post will be on what each of the gifts are and their purpose. May God be with you always and remember God has given us the greatest gift of all: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to this earth to pay for our sins, that if we believe in Him, we will have eternal life. We have the gift of salvation. My prayer is that you have or will accept that gift.
My Daily Scriptures 