Hi Everyone,
Sharing a devotional with you from Romans 12:3-8:
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Paul here is writing to the Christians in Rome teaching them and sharing with them the ways of Christ. These verses are great reminders that each one of us is to be humble and not look too highly of ourselves. Each one of us has unique gifts that help in furthering the Kingdom of God. Here Paul shares that there is not one gift that is extra special or better than another. The different gifts that are given to specific individuals is what makes us unique in that God knows and knew what gift we are to be given for our personalities and for how we can share the Gospel to those around us.
For some they may have a strong gift in prophesy and for others it is the gift of encouragement. These are gifts that God gives us based on how he created us. I was talking with a friend the other day and she mentioned that I had a certain gift that was unique to my personality and how she had a different set of gifts based on her personality. I love how Paul instructs us on how to act or how to use these gifts and the attitude that we use these gifts are important.
How we use these gifts make a difference in the people who get to experience God through these gifts. We are to use it wisely and to do it with a thankful heart that God has given us these gifts so that we can experience His love more deeply in how these gifts can minister to others. as well to see how these gifts were made for each person and how God has chosen those gifts for each one of us.
Friends may we use our gifts together to further the Kingdom of God and to make heaven come to earth as a glimpse of what heaven may be like. We each have gifts that are unique to us, may we use those gifts together, may we encourage one another in those areas and to pray with one another for the strengthening of those gifts according to the will of God.
Blessings,
Esther