Learning to Give the Gift of Me

In review of 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 it says, “There are different spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. There are different ways of serving, and yet the same Lord is served. There are different types of work to do, but the same God produces every gift in every person.”

Bottom Line:

There are different spiritual gifts, all from the same Spirit.  There are different ways of serving, yet we serve the Lord.  God works in different ways through each of us.  He produces every gift in every person and helps us in everything we do.

What this means to me:

I should remember that there are different spiritual gifts, but they are all from the same Spirit. There are different ways of serving, yet we all serve the same Lord. There are different type of work to do, but the same God. It is the same God who does the work in all of us, he helps us in everything we do. As I learn and know more about what I’m shaped to be, then I’ll know what I ought to be, and can therefore start to focus on that, making a better use of my life. The moment I’ve stepped across the line spiritually and committed my life to the Lord, I’ve said, “I’m going to go God’s way, not my own way. I’m going to let him direct my life. I want to follow God’s purpose, not my purpose. I’m going to do what I was wired and made to do.” The moment I stepped across the line and put my faith in Christ, God also gave me four major gifts:

• Forgiveness: Romans 5:15 says, “For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ” (NLT). The first thing Jesus did was wipe out everything I had ever done wrong. It’s forgiven! There is no condemnation.
• Eternal life: God has long-range plans for me. The Bible says in Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (NIV). I’ll never work my way or earn my way into Heaven. The only way I’ll ever get into Heaven is by God’s free gift that I have accept by faith.
• The Holy Spirit: Romans 5:5 says, “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” How can I know when I’m letting God live through my life? When I embody the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
• Special abilities: In the Bible, these special abilities are called spiritual gifts. These are different from material or physical gifts. They are the abilities I need to get the job done that God wants me to do. Most people who are believers don’t even know they’ve got them, much less what they are. But I have them!

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, “There are different spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. There are different ways of serving, and yet the same Lord is served. There are different types of work to do, but the same God produces every gift in every person” (GW).  God has a purpose for my life, and my spiritual gifts are the equipment he gives me to do what he asks me to do. God will never ask me to do something he doesn’t give me the ability to do. It was given to me the moment I accepted Christ. I didn’t get to choose my gift. I didn’t earn it.  It’s also not for my benefit. My spiritual gifts were given to me to help others. And other people in my church family are given their gifts to help me.  When I use my spiritual gift, the people in my church get blessed. It’s like a puzzle. If you have one jigsaw piece missing, what’s the first thing you notice? It’s the one missing piece. If you don’t develop and use your spiritual gifts, then all get cheated.