Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:8-11)
Today we consider an important aspect of service, spiritual gifts. God does not ask us to do anything that He does not equip us for. The passage above powerfully addresses the issue of love as a primary motivation, but it also mentions the use of gifts we have received and the strength God provides. Please prayerfully read the passage and answer the questions below.
Today’s Question and Request for comments
- To what extent do you believe you are using your spiritual gifts for service?
- If you feel led, please share how you learned what your spiritual gifts are. (Note: This may really help others.)
March 25, 2015 at 2:23 am
◾To what extent do you believe you are using your spiritual gifts for service?
In light of my current ministerial position I am called upon to consistently use my primary spiritual gifts of teaching and preaching. I believe I need continued development especially in the area of learning more about the historical and cultural background of biblical events and teaching to increase my understanding of the context of certain biblical teachings.
◾If you feel led, please share how you learned what your spiritual gifts are. (Note: This may really help others.)
Two of the ways by which I gained confidence or was affirmed as to what my primary spiritual gifts are, was by the testimony of others when they would share how the Lord had led me to present a certain teaching which had helped them to gain a clearer understanding of a passage and be better able to apply the teachings from it to their personal life. Secondly, on a personal note I have often experienced joy and I would even say excitement when the Lord has allowed me to discover a truth in a passage and also quite readily be able to find an analogy to help communicate this truth in a way that the majority of the hearers can understand and apply it to their lives to the degree God allows them to. Do you derive much pleasure serving the Lord in a particular way. Do you experience joy when you learn or observe that someone has been blessed by some service you have offered. Do you find that you are having more opportunities to serve in a particular manner. These are a few questions you could ask yourself as you seek to identify your spiritual gifts. I would also add that you could also seek feedback from a godly experienced servant of God. They are able to see what you may not be able to see presently.
March 25, 2015 at 9:39 pm
Great lessons in the commentary today. The comment about experiencing joy really resonated with me. There is no doubt that this is an excellent tool of confirmation that God uses.
March 26, 2015 at 9:33 am
To what extent do you believe you are using your spiritual gifts for service? I use all my gifts many times every week.
If you feel led, please share how you learned what your spiritual gifts are. (Note: This may really help others.) I discovered my gifts many years ago. They are the things that I have a natural inclination to want to do. They are things that provoke feelings of sadness or makes my conscience bother me if I know I can use my gifts and don’t. Recently Pastor Oliver did a session with our ladies bible study on identifying your gifts, and it was in the form of a questionnaire. It revealed the same gift I knew I had.