GIFTS (INTRO)

“For we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do,” (Ephesians 2:10)

It’s barely October and the stores are already filled with lighted trees, decorations, and gift ideas for Christmas! Personally, I like to handle my holidays one at a time (Thanksgiving is one of my favs!), but really - who doesn’t like to receive a gift?  And many of us would agree that giving gifts to those we love is as much a blessing as receiving one – maybe more so! 

Just as an Earthly parent loves to give gifts to their child, our Heavenly Father does as well and His gifts are DIVINE.

The topic of Spiritual gifts is an extensive one, and the Word clearly defines several types. In this series we will be focusing primarily on the “Gifts of Grace” Paul talks about in Romans 12. It’s my prayerful intention that these posts will encourage you and help you to see that you – yes, YOU! - have been given some amazing gifts by God, and that your faith will be activated to use them for His praise. But let’s start with a little reminder:

Long before we arrived here on Planet Earth, God had a plan and purpose for our lives. He formed each of us as a unique expression of His character; One-of-A-Kind Masterpieces who would reveal His glory and advance His Kingdom. Everything from where we were born, to the color and shape of our bodies, to our personal preferences were all part of His Divine Design. 

“Before I was born the Lord called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name…He said to me, “You are my servant Israel, in who I will display my splendor.” (Isaiah 49:1b,3)

Not only are we specifically designed for God’s purposes, Paul writes in Romans 12:7 that “we all have differing gifts, according to the grace given us.” The Greek word for “gift” being used in this passage is charisma.  It literally means “grace endowments.”

Just as we can’t earn salvation, we can’t earn spiritual endowments. They come from our Heavenly Father, according to His Will, by His grace. And, just like salvation, we exercise the using of these gifts by faith. 

God isn’t fickle. Unlike an Earthly parent that might take away a favorite toy as a form of punishment, God doesn’t take away the gifts He’s given us if we mess up. If we are actively living in sin, we may not sense the Holy Spirit’s direction or utilize the gifts to any extent, but that doesn’t mean they are gone. They’ve just gone underground, if you will, while we are out of fellowship with Him.  All we need to do is ask for His forgiveness, let Him get us back on the right path, and watch what He does through us!

“For God’s gifts and call (vocation) irrevocable – He never withdraws them once they are given and He doesn’t change His mind about those to who He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.” – Romans 11:29 (Amplified)

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