A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (NLT)

Wow! Did you get that? “A spiritual gift is given to each of us…” We, the body of Christ, each are gifted. The Spirit gifts us with a purpose — to “help each other” and “build up the Church.” See these next two scriptures.

However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

Ephesians 4:7,11-12 (NLT)

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

1 Peter 4:10-11 (NLT)

You may see your vocation, or your character in the gifts listed in these verses or you may still be discovering your gifts. Of one thing I am sure, you are gifted.

I have enjoyed writing this series of blog posts on gifts. They have opened my eyes to see how much we are gifted and how generous is our God. I see how “good and perfect” are all his gifts. I’ve learned I shouldn’t compare my giftedness with someone else, for the Holy Spirit decides what is needed, and he knows the big picture. I’ve also learned sometimes you have to ask in order to receive, but God’s gifts are given freely. I hope you will revisit my previous posts and be encouraged. Consider this next scripture as God’s invitation to receive what he has for you.

“Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy grain and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost [simply accept it as a gift from God].

“Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, And your earnings for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight in abundance.”

Isaiah 55:1-2 (AMP)

Amen

Grace & Peace,

Sandy

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay