Throughout human history, God has revealed Himself as One who loves those who will acknowledge Him. He, in turn, expresses His love by giving gifts. Sometimes those gifts are material things that can be touched and tasted, such as food, clothing, and shelter. Other times His gifts are in the realm of the spiritual - eternal life, endless love, peace of mind, and purpose of life.
Spiritual gifts were given to the first-century church, especially the early gifts of leadership. Those gifts to the church were to prepare God's people so that the work of Christ on earth could continue. In Titus 2, the apostle Paul encourages older church members to use their gifts for the benefit of younger members. This is just one way in which God shows His love language of gifts to the church.
Since those initial days of the Christin era, every believer in Christ has been given distinct "spiritual gifts," abilities to perform certain tasks in the body of Christ. Such gifts include wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, and leadership skills. The various gifts have empowered the followers of Christ to carry on His work for two thousand years.
Take time to pray to:
Thank God for the spiritual gifts He's given you.
Thank Him for other people's spiritual gifts that have made a difference in your life;
Ask Him to help you use your spiritual gifts in a way that benefits the body of Christ.
Discuss and reflect on:
What spiritual gifts does your loved one see in you? Do you agree?
What spiritual gifts do you see in your loved one? How do you think he or she might put them to use?
What obstacles prevent you from putting your gifts to full use?
Consider these passages for further study on Spiritual Gifts:
Romans 12:3-8 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ, we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
I Corinthians 12:1-11
Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers, and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gift of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous power, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Ephesians 4:11-13
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Great thoughts of Gary Chapman. Made me think about my gifts and how I am helping others with them.