One day as I was walking back to my car from dropping off my son at school, I heard someone calling my name. I looked over to see a friend of mine who was standing with a man I didn’t know. As I walked over, I felt the Holy Spirit say, “He needs to be encouraged.” After introductions, I began to hear the prompting of the Holy Spirit to bring up certain things. I began saying everything I was hearing to him, and he began to cry. I kept sharing these words of encouragement as long as the Holy Spirit led me. He then said, “I know we don’t know each other, but can we hug? You have no idea how much I needed to hear all that today.” After a bear hug, I told him that God sees his struggles and brought me over to tell him all those things. We’ve been friends since that moment.
When we think of spiritual gifts, we tend to think of the “big” ones listed in 1 Corinthians 12 like prophesy, words of wisdom, healing, performing miracles, discernment and interpreting tongues. Those can seem like wonderful gifts to have, but can also feel overwhelming to think about using. These gifts can be used anywhere, but are primarily seen in the church. However, there’s another set of spiritual gifts in Romans 12:6-9 that I see as every day gifts you can use at work, home, sporting events or anywhere you go. These gifts are serving, teaching, encouragement, giving, leadership and kindness. The gifts are for the people you come in contact with. If you look around, you’ve been perfectly situated to use these every day gifts God has given you. Which of them has God given you?
1 Corinthians 12:7 says, “A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other” (NLT). It may not feel like it, but you have spiritual gifts given to you by God. It’s time to unwrap them, hone them and use them. If you’re unfamiliar with what your gifts are, you can take a spiritual gifts assessment and it will show you. The transformation of the Church going from a cruise ship to a battleship begins with the believers using their gifts outside the church building. We have been equipped to change lives, to make a difference in our communities and to restore people to God. He is ready to use the gifts you’ve been given so we must stir them up, listen for the prompting of the Holy Spirit and use them in love wherever we go each day. Take some time today to read all of 1 Corinthians 12 and let it challenge you to mobilize and use your spiritual gifts to grow the Kingdom of God.
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 