I often find myself reflecting on the topic of spiritual gifts, a subject that often leaves me feeling slightly intimidated. Spiritual gifting is complex, filled with many variables and a vast amount of depth. But the Biblical truth is clear: God has given every believer at least one spiritual gift.
There is such a wide array of spiritual gifts one can possess. I think of administration, apostleship, discernment, encouragement, evangelism, faith, giving, healing, hospitality, interpretation of tongues, knowledge, leadership, mercy, miracles, pastoring, prophecy, teaching, serving, and wisdom. God gives each gift, fully intending individuals to have those specific gifts. Psalm 139:15-16 says, “My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” The power in these gifts is undeniable, and they are to be used in love to serve one another as the Holy Spirit intended. I believe it is natural to feel the weight of responsibility in managing them properly.
One of my personal life goals, and one that every believer of Christ should have, is to actively engage our spiritual gifts to serve the body of Christ and advance God's Kingdom in unity. Ephesians 4 emphasizes God's desire for unity in the church through the diversity of spiritual gifts. No gift is greater than the other. Paul writes in Ephesians 4:1-3 about the importance of each gift in unifying us as the body of Christ. “Therefore I, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, accepting one another in love, diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds us.” Yet some gifts are more "visible" than others, and it can be discouraging when we haven't yet figured out what our spiritual gift is or if it feels as though we possess a more passive gift. It's comforting to know that our gifts were uniquely designed for us by our wonderful Creator who knew exactly what He was doing.
The church is likened to the human body in 1 Corinthians 12, where each part plays a different role, symbolizing unity and diversity within the Body of Christ. This is a great passage that I encourage everyone to read in its entirety. It's our responsibility to know our gifts and find our sense of belonging in serving God's people. This density of emotion to fine-tune our gifts and steward them well is significant. Many of us have taken various personality tests, yet they all fall short without God. What better "personality test" is there than the one handpicked and gifted by the Spirit of God Himself, activated by the Holy Spirit in our lives?
As believers, we find our gifts through prayer, serving God's people, and pressing into what we are inclined to do as guided by the Holy Spirit. While these gifts may not be something we recognize now, we can and will know them through time spent with and for the Lord. In today's noisy and distracting world, it can be taxing to identify your spiritual gifts and even more difficult to utilize them for the gospel's advancement. It takes prayer, work, and time to develop and grow these gifts. It's exciting to be so intimately connected to our Creator through this process.
There are many scriptures to reference for guidance on spiritual gifts:
- Ephesians 4 emphasizes unity and the diverse gifts given by Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, and 1 Peter 4 discuss various spiritual gifts and their use in the church.
- Psalms 68:18, Colossians 2:15, and Revelation 6:2 highlight Christ's victory and authority as the giver of gifts.
- Psalm 139:15-16 describes the intricacy with which God has made us, including our spiritual gifts.
We should all embrace the power and responsibility bestowed upon us by the Holy Spirit. Recognize the divine purpose in every unique gift and utilize them with fervor and dedication for the Church and God’s glory. Understand that the pressure to steward these gifts well is not a burden, but an honor and a testament to our commitment to Christ. Let your gifts shine brightly, fostering unity and advancing the Kingdom of God. As you navigate this journey, lean into the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and trust in the meticulous design of our Creator. In doing so, we can walk boldly, "living on mission"!
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