Have you spent time determining what gift or gifts you have received from the Holy Spirit? Do you understand why He gives us gifts? Do you know how He determines what gifts to give? Would you like to know?
The Holy Spirit gives, minimally, a gift or talent to each one of us. For some, He distributes multiple gifts. If He gives multiple gifts, one is stronger within us than the others. Our part is to use them as they are intended.
Paul clearly tells the church in Corinth those gifts are given for the common good. In other words, we are given gifts to improve the lives of those around us, for our community, and for the world. Unfortunately, some will read that as though it means giving others what they want from a worldly perspective, which couldn’t be further from the truth. It means to give them what they need to become followers of Jesus. Sure, we are to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the sick, but always with the love of Christ and always to show them Him with the intention they choose to follow Him.
The Holy Spirit also distributes as He sees fit. That may seem a bit odd, unjust, or random. Yet, it is not. We must understand that the Holy Spirit is God, just as the Father and Son are God. He knows what each of us need to execute His plan. We are gifted individually so that we fit within the larger picture of the church. Each local body of Christ has the gifts needed to carry out the work God has set aside for them. We must recognize the gifts we have collectively and put them to use.
The Holy Spirit has given each one of us a gift or gifts for His purposes. As we seek to follow Jesus, we must seek to know what our gifts are and seek to use them as He desires. This is not a great mystery. It merely requires us to set our own desires aside for His.
I pray we all seek to know what gifts we have received from the Holy Spirit. I pray we seek to see how they fit within the church. I pray each one of us will choose to follow Jesus’ desires. Know your gifts. Put your gifts to work for God. Choose to follow God’s plan. See how you fit in the work of God. Do your part within the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12: 7, 11 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good…. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Marty Pressey 