Live Connected: You Have a Part to Play!Sample

Remember, It’s a Gift

Paul reminds us that the grace we receive is a gift from God. It’s not something we earn or deserve. This gift should humble us and remind us that we are all part of the body of Christ. None of us is more important than the other. We should all use our gifts to serve God and further His kingdom.

These devotionals will look at the seven spiritual gifts listed in Romans 12:3-8. However, you should know this isn’t an exhaustive list; more spiritual gifts are listed elsewhere in Scripture.

The first step in discovering our gifts is to be humble. We must understand that our gifts are not of our own making; they are given to us by God. We should not think too highly of ourselves but instead think sensibly, recognizing that God has distributed a measure of faith to each of us.

Once we have humbled ourselves, we must then discover our gifts. We must be willing to be Spirit-led and service-driven in all that we do. We must not become prideful about our gifts but instead use them to glorify God. Do not confuse natural talents or abilities with spiritual gifts. While someone may be an excellent athlete or musician, that does not necessarily mean they have a spiritual gift. A spiritual gift is something that the Holy Spirit has given us to use in service to God and His kingdom.

When we discover our spiritual gifts, we must use them to serve Christ and the church. We must be willing to do whatever is needed to serve God and His people. We must also be careful not to use our gifts to promote our agenda or to judge others harshly. Instead, we must speak God’s truth with clarity and power, meet the practical needs of others, explain and apply God’s truth to others, encourage and motivate others to follow Christ, give generously, guide and direct others in God’s will, and show compassion and kindness to those in need.

In all that we do, we remember spiritual gifts are not for our benefit but for the benefit of others and the glory of God and to further God’s kingdom. Always seek to be Spirit-led and service-driven.