Nougat 3

We continue to reflect on spiritual gifts in today’s Holy Nougat

“It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Hence the term, ‘spiritual gifts’. For, we cannot gift ourselves – it would be counterfeit. Moreover, I think our human nature would manifest in whichever gift we think is most important. So we would have a proliferation of preachers in church and no congregation to listen (and we can all imagine what that would be like eh). I love preaching, but I also yearn for other gifts that have not come to fruition; and others that I might have ignored).

And again, there’s the issue of maturity and pride. Although chronologically older spiritually, some of us have not grown very much since Salvation Station, and this impedes our capacity to minister effectively. Hence the admonition to assess ourselves by the measure of faith given us by God.

I would dare venture a bit further to suggest that we interrogate our own motives when we yearn for particular gifts lest we find ourselves attempting to ‘purchase’ that which is freely given. Or, we find ourselves seeking glory intended for God. This doesn’t mean that we can’t ask for a particular spiritual gift; surely we ought to yearn for them all, especially Love and Helps.

So here is an honest question for each of us to ponder, which gift do we most desire for ourselves, and why? By extension, we can also think of the spiritual gift we least desire … Let’s attempt to be honest with ourselves as we answer, and if we find that we don’t have a real reason, perhaps it’s time to have a conversation with God. And what better time to do so than now

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May all we seek be found in Christ