Nougat 4

More reflection on us and spiritual gifts in today’s Holy Nougat

“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We closed yesterday’s reflection with two questions – what gift do we most:least desire and why. I’m hoping that there was opportunity to reflect on those as the questions establish a solid base for our nougat. It assures us We are gifted by God For Excellence

Yes indeedy. It is time to get out of the fast lane of Mediocrity and enter God’s lane of excellence. This means we will need to discern our actual spiritual gifts – not the ones we want to have, but the gifts God has blessed us with. Have we figured it out as yet? And is it at all connected to the gift we least desire? Even more, are we fully operating our gifts for God’s glory?

The Pauline epistles are the main source we use to determine spiritual gifts, namely Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12-14. (Please read through to familiarize yourselves with them.) Interestingly, both epistles allude to the enemy’s efforts to create disunity in the churches because of the gifts. This suggests that we are to guard our gifts as the powerful weapons they are. Weapons, in the sense that they wreak havoc with the plans that the enemy of our souls has, hence the apparent desire to use the gifts against us.

Now, when we recall that spiritual gifts are given to us for strengthening the Body of Christ, equipping us for ministry and, by extension, proclaiming the Good News in word and deed, there is no doubt that the enemy of our souls is threatened. And so, we may find that we’re challenged in using our gifts with excellence, that we are caught up in squabbles about which gift is more valuable, and who ought to operate which gift. But remember the nougat on which we’re chewing indicates that we each have been given gifts.

I digress for a quick reference to the parable of the talents. The nobleman gave different amount of talents (coins) to each servant at his departure. In Matthew 25, they receive five, two and one talents; and Luke 19 places the amount at ten, five and one. We note that everyone got at least one talent. And each servant was to invest and increase the amount until the master returned. What if the parable also relates to spiritual gifts? That we’re blessed with spiritual excellence in a particular area for use (investment and increase) until Christ’s return? If we are called to give accounting now, would we be hearing ‘Well Done!’, or You Wicked Servant!’?

Lest fear be a deterrent, as it has been for me on many occasion, please listen to the clip from Christine Caine. And if God’s given you an increase in the number of spiritual gifts with which you work, maybe you could consider encouraging one of us who’s still discerning what our gifts are, and how to use them for God’s glory.

Selah

This Teaching Clip made me think of you. Watch Romans 8:31 by Christine Caine:

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May all we seek be found in Christ