What about those Spiritual Gifts? 

“Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God. If anyone speaks, it should be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, it should be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4:10-11‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/72/1pe.4.10-11.HCSB

The Spiritual Gifts are Gifts from God to His children to be used to glorify God. 

There are so many avenues to explore on this subject. First I wanted to touch on our expectations. 

When we are given a gift, any gift, are we happy with the gift? Recently, my husband and I gave our grandchildren Christmas gifts. We were very deliberate and careful with our choices for each grandchild. We chose a Lego theme, something that all of the grandchildren enjoy. We chose a Lego set for each grandchild that we felt reflected their personality and interests. However, after the gifts were opened, and the day progressed, we found out that one of our grandchildren tried to trade his set with his cousins set. When that didn’t work, he was found with his cousins set hidden in his personal belongings. 

How many of us want to trade our spiritual gift with another believers spiritual gift? How does that make the gift giver feel? And with our maker, our Heavenly Father being the gift giver, wouldn’t He know what is best for us? Wouldn’t He know what would equip us best to give Him Praise and Glory?

I love the scripture about the whole body working together. About one body part not more Important than another. When one body part is weak or injured, the other body parts have to work harder. The other body parts sometimes need to work out of their comfort zone.

If we, children of God can grasp this idea, we could be more diligent at living and working for our Heavenly Father. There are so many messages from this analogy. One being that we all need to know and accept our spiritual gift that God has blessed us with. We need to use it for God. We need to realize how important our gift is and accept it as our blessing. We need not to be jealous of others gifts. We need to work together for the good of Christ! 

I remember a special time in my life where a plan came together so beautifully.  I was very pleasantly surprised. I had a dream, a vision. And God who put that vision in my mind and heart put the gifts in the people to bring it to action. I was teaching a youth class in our church. I didn’t feel qualified at all, in fact I feel it was a temporary gift for a unique time. And I am blessed to this day. These were middle school and high school girls. We wanted to do something special for our church. We put together a Valentine Dinner with childcare for the married couples in our church. I told the youth what my vision was and they took it and ran with it. They set up a table in each Sunday school room with a decorative theme. The youth planed, designed and decorated a theme for each room. One youth  read scripture and prayed for each couple as they entered. One youth played the Violin, floating room to room for each couple while they dined. They had flowers at each table and gave each couple a rose. They had a photo booth set up and took a picture of each couple before they left. We had the nursery set up for the children with activities and kid friendly food while the parents had a quiet, fun romantic meal. The menu consisted of salad, bread, desert and a choice of lasagna or chicken cordon blue., which was made and served by, you guessed it, the youth. It was such a treat. Perfect example of each person using their spiritual gifts and talents to work together to give God the glory.  

As we explore the Spiritual Gifts, let us have an open mind, a mind that is focused on Gods perfect plan for us and others. 

My take away from this blog post is how sweet it is when Gods Children work together in harmony to give Him honor and Glory!

What are your thoughts? Have you ever seen God in action using His people together in harmony as they each use their gifts and talents? I would love to hear. Please leave a comment.

“Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God activates each gift in each person. A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial: to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of languages, to another, interpretation of languages. But one and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as He wills. For as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body — so also is Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free — and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. So the body is not one part but many. If the foot should say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,” in spite of this it still belongs to the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t belong to the body,” in spite of this it still belongs to the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed each one of the parts in one body just as He wanted. And if they were all the same part, where would the body be? Now there are many parts, yet one body. So the eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you! ” Or again, the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you! ” But even more, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary. And those parts of the body that we think to be less honorable, we clothe these with greater honor, and our unpresentable parts have a better presentation. But our presentable parts have no need of clothing. Instead, God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable, so that there would be no division in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other. So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it. And God has placed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, managing, various kinds of languages. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in other languages? Do all interpret?”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:4-30‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/72/1co.12.5-30.HCSB

“Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one. Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the standard of one’s faith; if service, in service; if teaching, in teaching; if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness. Love must be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Be in agreement with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Try to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone. Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord. But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:1-21‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/72/rom.12.1-21.HCSB