READING: Romans 12-16, 1 Corinthians 1
I still remember the first time I worked through a spiritual gifts inventory. It seems inventories were a newer thing at the time, and our church family was filled with excitement about learning what our gifts were. Back then, we didn’t talk much about testing our perceived gifts through actually doing ministry; we just took a test and told others what our gifts were. The result, in too many cases, was arrogance.
What we missed were Paul’s words that God’s gifts to us are a matter of His grace. None of us earns our spiritual gifts. Not one of us is uniquely qualified on our own or in our own efforts. None of us can brag with legitimacy, for none of us is worthy of doing God’s work. No, we have spiritual gifts because of God’s goodness toward us that we hardly deserve.
Nor do we use our gifts in isolation. We are all different, but God has put His church together as He wishes for His glory. We are truly members together of His body, serving individually and corporately for gospel good.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: What are your spiritual gifts? How do you know?
PRAYER: “God, thank You for gifting us to do Your work. We are humbled.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 1 Corinthians 2-7
