Use what you were given

1 Corinthians 12: 4-13

4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.


This passage is a reminder for all of us to use what we have been given. The Holy Spirit touches us each in a different way, as a result each one of us is a unique cog in the gear of life.

We each should spend some time really searching for just what that gift is. Pray on it, meditate on it, and listen to what the Lord has to tell you. The reason I say it is so important is because we all have to play out our part for the Lord’s plan to work. To say you are a Christian is great thing, but to show that you are a Christian by utilizing your gifts is truly letting the Lord work within your life.

We all have a desire to show how the Lord has moved us. Each of us has a unique way of doing that. When we gather together as a church family we can see just how beneficial it is do have such great diversity in applications working towards the same goal. Perhaps you are a leader, or you have the ability to lift others when they are in need, it may be that when you read the Bible you see ways to relate it to a real world application. Are you good with schedules, and structure, or do you find true enjoyment in teaching the word of God? Then by all means let that gift flow forth. There are people all around you that could benefit from it, all you have to do is open the door, and share.

Paul tells us that we are like babies when we first come to the Lord. We feed on the milk of the Word of God. There is nothing wrong with that, it is very beneficial, and goes a long way in building a solid foundation, however we must work towards moving on to living on the meat of the word of the Lord. A good way to progress in your spiritual maturity, and get started eating meat is to share the gifts. All too often people Come to the Lord, and hear his truths, they read, they study but then they seem to go stagnant. We cannot continue to mature unless we share what we have been given with others.

When we take the time to not only recognize our gifts, but to expand on them and share them; that is when we clear that plateau. We will see our life improve, and we will experience the joy that comes from sharing the gifts that the Holy Spirit has blessed us with!
Peace,
Rev. Thetford