Gifts from GOD? YESSSS!


In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. (Romans 12:6-8 NLT)


Reading through this list of gifts (some people call them the “motive gifts,”) I just love how we are directed to put into action the skills that God has already put inside us.  There is a purpose for them!  And as the scripture points out, we don’t all have the same natural gifts and so we will all need to do different things to fully utilize them.  I find it easy to forget that and instead imagine that I need to do things like someone else (or everyone else!) in order to fulfill God’s purpose for me. But that is not the case at all.  God wants us all to flourish in what He has uniquely given to each one of us. However, that only happens if we cultivate the gifts inside of us. Here are some practical steps:



1. Know who you are.  We are God’s children, made in His image!  Learning to be okay with the unique things God put inside of us starts with realizing that He made us different on purpose, and He likes how He made us.  Ephesians 2:10 says: “For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (NLT)



2. Know what He put inside of you.  Read through that passage in Romans 12:6-8 a few times and ask God to help you see which gift (or gifts) in particular He’s placed in you- which things on that list come naturally for you?  



3. Develop, mature and cultivate the gifts He gave you.  Don’t stop with just noticing what comes easily- work to refine that gift, not just doing it but doing it to the very best of your ability, and ask the Lord to help you do it even better!  Pay special attention to the instructions given in that passage of scripture for the gifts you identify with.



4. Turn them loose on the world!  Ultimately, remember: these gifts aren’t for us to serve or glorify ourselves.  They are to serve the Kingdom of God, and to be a blessing to the people around us!   

(List from  from Stir Up the Gift Within You, by Pastor Vondalier Pipkin)