Have you ever been told that because you don't have a particular spiritual gift, you have not accepted Christ or been baptized by the Spirit? Don't let anyone judge you based on the spiritual gifts you have. God distributes spiritual gifts to each one of us as He wills.
I accepted Christ as my savior when I was 16 years old. I knew nothing other than I needed Jesus. It took time before I understood what it meant for Jesus to not only be my savior but also the Lord God of my life. It took time for me to understand how to live for Him and serve Him.
In college I started going to a Bible Study where they spoke in tongues. That was a foreign concept to me. I can't remember if I was told or just got the impression that there was something missing in me since I didn't have the gift of speaking in tongues.
So I spent a great deal of time praying that God would give me this gift. I also spent quite a bit of time thinking I was lacking something because I didn't have this gift. That is until I studied what God said about Spiritual Gifts in His Word; that God gives us all different gifts and not every believer is given the gift of speaking in tongues.
God gives us different gifts as He wills.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 [4] There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. .. [7] But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: [8] for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, [9] to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, [10] to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. [11] But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
Appreciate and use the gifts God gives you for His glory rather than desiring the gifts He has given to someone else:
1 Corinthians 12:15-16 [15] If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? [16] And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?
As you draw close to Jesus, through His Word, you will discover the gifts He has given you and be called to use them for His glory.
1 Corinthians 12:27-31 [27] Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. [28] And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. [29] Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? [30] Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts.
God has not given me the gift of speaking in tongues. But He has called me to teach His Word; to share what I learn as I study it. So I need to use that gift that He has given me to encourage others and help them draw close to God, through His Word.
I need to make sure I never make anyone else feel bad if they don't have the same gift I do. I also need to make sure I don't ever let anyone else tell me I am lacking something because I have not been given the their gift.
Each of us is to use the gifts we have been given to build up the body of Christ so that together we are drawing close to Jesus, serving Him, and sharing His message of love and salvation with a world that desperately needs to know Him.
Are you using the gifts God has given you to serve Him and encourage others?
Dear Lord, Thank you for helping me understand spiritual gifts so that I can serve You with the gifts You have given me and encourage others to serve You with the gifts You have given them. Lord, I pray that You put a passion in each of our hearts to serve You and glorify You with our gifts. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
Jan Weihl
Living Word Ministries
Email: whileintheword@gmail.com
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