1 Corinthians 12:4-6 NLT
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.
A spiritual gift is one God gives us to help us accomplish His purpose and enrich His Body, the Church. It’s not the same as talent, although natural talent dedicated to Him can blossom into a spiritual gift. In Jesus, our God-given talents and natures can become much more than we imagine. John Groban expresses this well in his song, “You Raise Me Up.”
I am strong
When I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up
To more than I can be.
My daughter has the spiritual gift of compassion and can care for the sick and depressed with infinite patience. Through The Forge, the men of our church have used their skills to lighten the load of single mothers and widows. A Chinese friend found a great outreach by offering to teach English to newcomers. Another friend finds fulfillment by using her beautiful voice and exuberance to bless the elderly saints in nursing homes. Another, whose gift is cooking, provides meals for the sick and bereaved. Dorcas in Acts 9 blessed others with her needle and thread.
My friends tell me I have the gift of teaching. This is a heavy responsibility because, as James 3:1 warns, “Not many of you should become teachers because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” I love teaching the Bible and, while never given the opportunity to study college courses, I believe God has been shaping this gift in me since I was a small child. Consider the following remarkable events:
- Although my hardworking parents did not attend church, when I was four years old, the happy Gospel songs of a nearby revival drew me. The people welcomed my intrusion in dirty play clothes. My embarrassed mother decided perhaps I might benefit from Sunday School and sent me every week thereafter—alone, but freshly bathed and nicely dressed. From that time on, church was part of my life’s routine.
- When my older brother entered first grade, we lived in an all-Catholic community. As the only Protestant student, he was permitted to study his own book, Hurlbut’s Stories of the Bible. We moved soon after, and the book lay unused until I entered school and became an avid reader. The volume still remains on my shelf, its worn pages barely held together with masking tape. By age ten, I almost had it memorized.
- The Bible stories fired my imagination, and I often included them in my play. Once, after reading about the prophet Elisha raising the Shunammite boy (2 Kings 4:18–37), I tried to resuscitate a dead rabbit! It didn’t work, but by a mighty miracle, neither did I get sick.
- My fifth-grade school teacher cared deeply about her students and used school time to teach Christianity. Our class answered roll call each morning by reciting the books of the Bible – both Old and New Testaments. Think of that!
- When I entered junior high, I wanted to participate in extracurricular activities. My mother found a lady on the outskirts of town willing to let me stay overnight on those days. Dessie Blackburn’s tarpaper shack was decorated with pictures and sayings of Jesus, and she spoke freely of Him. This dear saint introduced me to personal Christianity.
- In my teens, I almost lost my way. Then a friend invited me to a youth revival, where I met Jesus face-to-face. I joined their small youth group, and, under the pastor’s and his wife’s leadership, my life changed entirely.
- My parents, amazed at the change in me, began coming with me to church and recommitted their lives to Christ. The adult Sunday School teacher, an older lady named Thelma, whetted their interest in the scriptures. I saw what joy and peace Bible study could bring as their lives were turned around.
Sometimes God shapes us by shutting doors. I thought I might become a “motivational speaker,” but five years in Toastmasters brought the realization that my voice does not and will never carry to hearers. I also aspired to write books to reach a wide audience. After attending many writers’ conferences and being rejected by every contact, I had to accept God’s plan for me, which was a very limited sphere. I am grateful for every reader and pray that the insights God has given me bless each one deeply.
Our church has Life Groups, small groups of people seeking God and fellowship within a small, safe circle. When I complained we did not have a Sunday morning adult Bible study, my friend persuaded me to volunteer to lead a life group (she has the gift of encouragement). Only a handful attend my life groups, but we are each growing, and I find great satisfaction in helping others understand the Greatest Story Ever Told.
In the same way, as I have noted remarkable events that could only have been from God, I invite you to reflect on how His hand has been upon your life to shape it and develop the gifts He has given you.
Prayer: Father, each of us has spiritual gifts that will bless others in Your Body, the Church. Help us find and use each of our special gifts for Your glory. Therein we will find our deepest satisfaction, in Jesus’s name. Amen.