The church is a gathering of the family, and when I’m a part of the church, as a member of the family, I have a role to play. I need the church and the church needs me, and it is in church that I discover and develop my spiritual gifts that I can use for the glory of God. Here’s what the Bible says in Romans 12:5, “We, being many, are one body in Christ. Individually we’re members one of another, having gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us. Let us use them.”
Practical Principles
- See yourself honestly. Don’t think you’re better than you are. On the other side of the coin, don’t think you’re worse than you are. If God gave you a gift, develop and use it. It’s disobedience to not use that gift, so start by having an honest evaluation of yourself.
- We all have a part to play in the church with our spiritual gifts. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We’re not all the same. Aren’t you glad of that? God loves diversity. He created us different.
- God has given many different gifts. Among them are the gift of prophecy, serving, teaching, encouragement, exhortation, giving, and showing kindness and mercy.
Relevant Reminders
- The gift of serving is listed right next to the gift of prophecy. Some might see one gift as much cooler than another, but God places them right next to each other, and they are all important.
- The word exhort is a word that means to motivate, to stimulate, to excite, and when necessary, to correct.
- So many people are missing out on the blessing of giving. God loves a cheerful giver.
- The great Bible expositor Warren Wiersbe once wrote, “You can never be too small for God to use, only too big.”
Applicable Actions
God has given you gifts. They’re there. Maybe they’re lying dormant. Maybe they’ve never been discovered. How do you discover your spiritual gifts? One of the best ways to find out is through the process of elimination. Find out what you’re not good at before you find out what you are good at. How do you figure that out? Volunteer for everything. Just get out there and try. Make an effort, and see what you can do for God’s glory. As I said already, the church needs you, but you need the church.
