It’s Christmastime, and many of us have our minds on presents—the presents we want to give to others and the presents we want to receive. For our Advent season, we’re looking at the spiritual gifts we’re given as believers.
Far from a symbol of spiritual status or importance, apostle Paul tells us that our spiritual gifts are for the sake of others. He says, “A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other” (1 Corinthians 12:7). The truth is, we only truly receive spiritual gifts when we give them away. This year, we want you to have a space to reflect on your spiritual gifts, stir your hunger for more, and receive the gifts of the Spirit afresh.
Spiritual Gifts — The Basics
During the twelve days of Christmas, we’ll have the opportunity to read a short, daily devotional from someone in our church family about a spiritual gift. As you prepare, consider the following biblical foundations for how we should think about spiritual gifts:
- Every believer has access to all the spiritual gifts listed in the Bible, and we can use those gifts from time to time (i.e., a person may have a prophetic word for someone when that is not usually how they hear from God). That said, we become more and more proficient in some gifts than others.
- Some gifts are also commands: while some have the gift of evangelism, we are all called to evangelize; while some have the gift of mercy, all of us are called to be merciful. Not having a particular gift isn’t an excuse to not engage in the practice.
- The gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 14 and Romans 12 and 1 Peter 5 aren’t intended to be exhaustive, but examples of gifts given to the people of God. There are other gifts mentioned throughout the Bible, like artistry, that are also spiritual gifts.
- These gifts are distinguishable from our fivefold function in the body, which are mentioned in Ephesians 4. Each of us is called to a function, to be a gift to the body, even as we use other gifts.
- The best way to know if you have a spiritual gift is to reflect on if its use energizes you and blesses others, and if you feel that you are in the flow of grace when you engage in it.
Here’s to seeing how God speak to us in the coming weeks! Jesus, come soon!
